Forest Therapy & Oracle Cards

Just realized I haven't posted anything to my blog in over a year! Time to step back and regroup. So much negative energy floating around that has captured my thoughts, my heart and my spirit lately. I look out my window each morning and am so grateful for where I live, the forest, the birds, the other wildlife that lives and visits our property. The Wood Frogs that have been calling for over a week now and the early signs of Spring. So much to be grateful for and I feel way more blessed than many. Starting each morning with gratitude [and coffee] has been really good for me. One of my beautiful friends, Katie, is a "Reiki Master Energy Healer" and I have had a couple of sessions with her. She is amazing and I always feel so grounded when I'm in her presence and, certainly, after our sessions. I've also been doing a weekly Pilates series and working on my balancing and strength. One of the things Katie used in our recent Reiki session was a "Selenite" wand. She placed it across my hips to align my chakras. I actually have one of these wands that I just had sitting around collecting dust and bringing it outside on occasion to be charged by the full Moon. I decided to start using it in my forest therapy sessions and, in particular, my balancing practice. So this photo is of me, laying on the ground, with my legs up one of my favorite trees and balancing the selenite wand on my feet. I have to admit, it was quite the challenge...but certainly invigorating!

I also recently purchased this gorgeous deck of "Forest Power Cards" from Moc Lasu. They are wonderful and the prompts are perfect for anyone wanting to practice Forest Therapy, Forest Bathing [Shinrin Yoku] or just enjoy being in nature and learning/observing. It was no surprise the first card I drew was this one! "A Snail's Pace" ~ the actual way I practice my sessions. If you've been looking for a connection, I highly recommend this deck. 

Of course, my favorite time of year is when the Wood Frogs show up to fill up our little ponds with eggs, which will be hatching tadpoles in a few short weeks. This little female was so full of eggs, she could barely move. I just love seeing them, hearing them and watching their whole life cycle evolve right in our little forest. 

This cute little Male was just taking in some Sunshine and waiting for a Female with a belly full of eggs to show up. I could sit and watch them for hours.

I know some people think I'm crazy...because of my love of nature and all critters, so this little cartoon fit me perfect! I had to share. 

Please comment your favorite thing about Spring! It's on the way!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

Drawing on photos!

 Drawing on photos...my favorite pastime --- what's yours?

A birthday card I created for a longtime friend that LOVES Chipmunks!

Latest "Canva" challenge! Drawing on a landscape photograph. I love how this turned out. It's a photo I took several years ago on top of "Big Rock" in Dupont State Forest...my son and my husband.

Happy Sunday! 

love and peace always ~ Kathy

Forest Bathing...

 Sometimes all you need is a walk in the woods to clear your mind and renew your spirit. Yesterday was one of those days. 

The forest is literally busting with newness this time of year, with lots of native plants and wildflowers just waiting for discovery. These "Jack-in-the-pulpits" are always super cool to find and, yesterday, I found several, including a five leaved plant that hasn't produced a "jack" yet
I can't wait to see if one pops up! But the best find yesterday was this very elusive "Hooded Warbler" --- I've been hearing it singing for a couple of weeks, but have not been able to actually see it, until yesterday, which was bitter/sweet, because I had a very difficult "Mother's Day" this year, with everything going on in my family. This beautiful bird seemed to say "just keep on singing, everything will be alright"

And I was even lucky enough to get a pretty decent photo of it, too!

And then I got to witness a pair of Carolina Wrens building a nest in my hanging "Angel Wing Begonia" that is in a macrame' hanger my dad made years ago

I thought it was pretty funny watching the pair pick out nesting materials...while one of them [assuming the female] made some very elaborate choices, the other one [assuming the male] would just fly down and grab whatever he could, not thinking twice about it. They were so much fun to watch!

I can't wait to see the little family! 

Happy Monday!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

My Broken Mother

Broc & Kristin [1980]

 This is a long story, but something I just had to get out...I thought it would make me feel better, getting it all down in writing, but it didn't.

On May 11, 1987 my Mother broke. I was with her at the hospital when my little sister died. My own son was 6 years old. He and my little sister were best friends. They were so close. When I got the call that day, telling me my little sister had been hit by a car and she was at the hospital, I thought, okay, she's got a broken arm, maybe a broken leg, nothing anymore serious than that. I arrived at the hospital, rushed in and up to the nurses station and, in a semi-panicked voice, told them I was there to see my little sister, Kristin, who had been hit by a car. The nurse looked up at me solemnly and said "she's in ICU" upstairs --- at that very moment my life changed forever...I just knew. I don't know how I knew, but I just knew. Of course, I held out hope for everything and was still believing in miracles at that time. After two days of praying with the local Baptist preacher, I was done. I knew we were well past the praying stage. They kept praying, though. After a day and 1/2 of my sister being on life support with no brain activity, my Mother finally laid down and rested. The doctors gave her a mild sedative and she was able to sleep for a few hours. When she woke up and came back into the room where my sister was, she took my sisters hand and said, "it's okay for you to go, I don't know how I'm going to live without you, but I know you are with the angels and in God's hands". Within about 5 minutes, my little sister's heart stopped beating. I watched my Mother break. There was nothing we could do for her, nothing we could say to her, nothing. It actually broke all of us, somewhat, but not like it broke my Mother. It broke my Father, too...but he was already a little bit broken anyway, so this just finished him off. He drowned himself in a bottle of vodka until, at only 65 years old, he never resurfaced. 

My Mother tried to move on, tried to be happy, tried to pretend she wasn't broken. She met my step-dad, Sam, and he swept her off her feet. She was working part-time at a Hallmark store, just to keep her mind occupied and give her something to do. Sam would come in to buy cards for his daughters and they struck up a conversation and he ended up asking her out to dinner...just like a real life Hallmark story! Well, they ended up getting married and seemed to have a good, happy life together, until they both broke. Sam's son died of lung cancer in 2008 and he became broken like my Mother. Years of depression followed for both of them...using every penny they had to "buy" happiness, which was always fleeting.  But through it all, they had each other, loved each other and doted on each other. Sam loved my Mother more than anyone could and she loved him...and still does.

This past November [2022] Sam ended up in the hospital, really sick with sepsis and E.coli. The hospital said he was "on the fence" and could go either way. Since Sam has always been very healthy, very lean and athletic, he ended up getting better with some strong rounds of antibiotics. But the infection had caused some permanent damage to his brain and he became a different person. He started accusing my mother of taking things from him, hiding things from him, etc., and even accused her of having a "boyfriend" and was convinced she was sneaking this "boyfriend" through her bedroom window at night. He became so paranoid he bought a baby monitor and set it up in her bedroom, so he could watch her from his bedroom [I know, crazy stuff]. When he was sick in the hospital, my mother called Sam's biological daughter, Michele, just to let her know how sick her father was and just going on that "motherly instinct" of trying to do the right thing. I have never met Michele, but agreed that she should know her dad was very sick. Michele has been in and out of Sam's life over the last 20+ years, having been in prison for several years and in and out of jail numerous times in between. We all knew she had drug problems and money problems, but never thought she would do what she has done to my mother, her father and us. She came back into their lives and basically destroyed their lives. She may as well have just gone ahead and killed them, because she sucked every ounce of life they had left out of them. I'm not even going to go into details about the whole ordeal, it's to disgusting to even type. The bottom line is, she broke my Mother again. My Mother is broken, just like she was on May 11, 1987, but even worse this time. All she does is cry...EVERYTHING in her life has been taken from her. Michele destroyed her home, her husband, her entire world. There is nothing anyone can do or say to fix her. Sam is in and out of reality [mostly out], in and out of hospitals and facilities...he is broken. He is suicidal and doesn't want to go on without my mother, but they can't be together because of his mental illness, which he doesn't understand. 

All I do is cry...day and night, every day, every night. I'm right back to 1987 and I feel helpless, once again. I will get to face Michele in court and I don't know how that's going to make me feel. The depth of what she has done will never be known to us, since it continues on and on, day after day. I honestly have to say that she is the most vile, evil human being I have ever encountered and I wish she could be put away for the rest of her life for what she has done to my Mother and Sam. People like her don't even deserve to breath air, as far as I'm concerned. I will be at peace when she no longer walks this Earth...I know that's a horrible thing to say and a terrible way to feel, but she has broken me, too. 

Thanks for reading --- I know it's sad, but it still needs to be said. Kristin's spirit is living on in my son, Broc, and that's what keeps me going.

love and peace always ~ Kathy

Smudging vs. Xanax

 
I always forget how relaxing and healing "smudging" can be. Instead of reaching for a Xanax, I did a smudging ceremony, opened my windows, and did some meditation while listening to the birds. After I was done, I took a walk into the forest and witnessed two Cardinal parents teaching their baby how to fly.
Then I saw the first Mountain Laurel bloom of the year

 and a brand new Reishi Mushroom growing on a hemlock log. 

I realized then that I don't need pills to make me feel better, or make me grateful, I just need my own inner magic --- it's a win/win!

I always have to remind myself that negative energy fields can manifest as scattered emotional patterns, projects or goals which become delayed. Spiritual Influences, restless sleep behaviors, arguments or disagreements, illnesses, headaches, or visits from undesired guests, can result in us absorbing negative energy, sometimes without even realizing it – though we may feel uneasy without understanding the reason why. All of these times are good times to get out that smudge bundle.

Maybe you need to do some smudging, too! 

love and peace always ~ Kathy

The struggle is real...

 
Had to go sit on my "crying log" today, just so I can try to decompress. Counting out the remaining Xanax pills I have left that a friend gave me and wondering if I have enough left to even get through this day.

Have you had to deal with elderly parents that are hoarders? My Mom won't even answer the phone because she is so mad at me for throwing away her "stuff", even though I assured her the things thrown away were just trash and broken items that are not even usable...and 1/2 empty bottles of pills, cleaning products, beauty products, makeup, shampoo, etc. She even has boxes of things that belong to another family member that moved to another city and he hasn't even called her in over a year. I told her those things certainly need to go...she refuses. Even though she is excited about moving into an assisted living facility, where she will have a 1 bedroom apartment, she is convinced she'll have "room" for all of this garbage she refuses to get rid of. I'm almost at my wits end. She cries and cries and says we just want her to hurry up and die, so we don't have to deal with her anymore, blah de blah. I even asked AI what to do...this is what I got from that prompt:

 Tips and Strategies:

1. Educate yourself about hoarding disorder: Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for hoarding disorder. This can help you understand your parents' behavior and find ways to support them.

1. Communicate with your parents: It's important to have an open and honest conversation with your parents about their hoarding behavior. Let them know that you are concerned for their safety and well-being, and offer your help.

1. Seek professional help: Consider reaching out to a therapist or counselor who specializes in hoarding disorder. They can provide support and guidance for you and your parents.

1. Set boundaries: It's important to set boundaries with your parents and establish clear guidelines for their behavior. For example, you may need to limit the amount of time you spend in their home or set rules for what they can keep.

1. Get support: Dealing with hoarding behavior can be stressful and challenging. Don't hesitate to reach out to friends, family, or support groups for help and encouragement.

Conclusion: Coping with elderly hoarder parents can be a difficult and emotional journey. But with the right support and strategies, you can find ways to manage the situation and support your loved ones. Remember, you are not alone in this journey.

It's the very last sentence that I need to focus on, because I sure do feel alone in this journey. Even though my awesome Son is helping us so much, it's still a struggle. Any suggestions are appreciated! Thank you!

And, it seems as though every time I ask God for "sign" something shows up! Like this adorable little Buddha my daughter sent to me randomly in the mail yesterday! I needed this so much...it's a sign that says, to me, "you got this" and "you are not alone". Even though today has been a struggle, there's always tomorrow! 
love and peace ~ Kathy

What do you think about AI technology?

 

So what do you think about all this AI technology? I thought it was really cool when it first showed up and I use it all the time to edit photographs [like the one above, using Topaz software to create a "painterly" look], but now that it's actually "thinking" for us, I'm not too sure about it. When you can type in "a poem about frogs" and it writes this for you:

"Frogs croak and hop with glee,
 In ponds and streams, they dwell free.
Their skin may be slimy and green, 
But their songs are a joyous scene.

From tadpole to adult they grow, 
In nature's cycle, they flow.
 Their eyes bulge, their legs strong,
 A wonder to behold all along.

Oh, frogs, how you delight, 
In the day and through the night.
 Your presence fills us with peace,
 A reminder of nature's sweet release."

It makes me wonder what we are truly becoming...I spend a lot of time writing poems, writing stories, writing blog posts, etc., so this type of technology has me wondering what, if anything, is left to the imagination? What do you think? [and don't use AI for your answer 🤣]

And Happy Earth Day!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

Bear Medicine

This whole year has been so daunting and depressing and feels like nothing will ever get better. Dealing with elderly parents, especially when one of them is having severe mental issues, is exhausting. One day they hate you, the next day they are crying like a baby and apologizing. Something just has to give. I went on a walk through our forest and pulled a few of the wildlife camera cards, just to see if there was anything on them to make my day. It has been a few years since we have seen a bear, so when I saw this big fuzzy wuzzy, I was so stoked! I said, Thank you, God, you know I needed this medicine today. And, ironically, I had been sitting on that chair the same afternoon and the day after that. It's a little chair I have set up by the little pond and I sit there and watch the tadpoles swim. And one of the websites I still get daily emails from is "DailyOm" --- it's amazing how often the messages in their emails is exactly spot on with what I'm feeling/going through. Of course, when I received the following email, it made me very emotional...if you don't think things happen for a reason, you need to think again! Thank you little Bear!! You have no idea how much I needed you!!
 

We can incorporate bear energy into our lives by remembering to take time to go inward, to rest and rejuvenate in daily mini hibernations.

"When the image of a bear enters our consciousness, we may first notice their size, strength, and power, but beyond their physical attributes lay many traits that can guide us deeper into our experience of life. Their abilities as hunters and powerful protectors of their loved ones are well known, but you may also envision them on a quest for variety as they seek out the flavors and scents of the world, first fishing, then enjoying berries, or braving angry bees to indulge in honey. But their hidden strength lies in the bear’s ability to travel between the physical and spiritual worlds, a talent that is recognized all around the world by those who live in harmony with nature.

One way that bears access their inner world is during hibernation when they find a safe and womb-like environment to let their physical bodies rest while their spirit travels. They travel through time, mentally digesting and learning from their experiences, but they also travel beyond the realm of mind and body into the dreamtime, where they are able to be rejuvenated by the source of all life. In this sacred space, they are connected to physical, mental, and spiritual realms all at once and can find the balance that they need to reenter world.

Polar bears don’t enter a deep state of hibernation like other bears, but instead fluidly cross between realms on the physical plane as well the spiritual. Their reflective, translucent fur makes them difficult to see as they move across the frozen ice, blending into terrain covered with snow, making them seem like they are shimmering between dimensions. They move as easily in water as on land, agile and able in both worlds. They can remind us that we are one with our environment, inseparable from it. They teach us that while we can take time apart to connect with spirit, we can also carry that awareness with us as we move through life, making the spiritual indistinguishable from the material. By aligning ourselves with bear energy, we fully embody the best of all worlds."

Then I found this clump of maple tree "whirly birds" and thought: Every day I'm challenged by more of what God thinks I can handle! Sometimes I wish I could be like a tree and just release everything that no longer serves me --- easier said than done. It's hard, but I'll get through it...I've gotten through much worse.

love and peace always ~ Kathy

Summer Love!!

Enjoy this beautiful video! Summer is in full swing!! 

I also have to share this adorable little "Snowy Planthopper" that's been hanging out on my money plant. He is so cute, but he is tiny!!

Hope your Summer is going well!! Autumn is just around the corner...evenings are cooling off.

love and peace always ~ Kathy

How cute is this little "Junk Bug"!

 How cute is this adorable little "Junk Bug" aka [Lacewing Larva]! It was crawling on my foot last night, while I was washing dishes. They carry all sorts of "junk" on their back in order to confuse predators. But, the best thing about these cute little critters is that they love Aphids, which are their favorite food, and the larva is usually called "an aphid lion.". Nature is so amazing!❤️

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Hope you enjoy this cute little video! Happy 4th of July!!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

Sally's Story

This story just poured out of me this morning...I don't know where it came from, but it needed to be told. This is Sally and this is her story:

Just two months shy of her 13th birthday, Sally had stopped having periods. She was hungry all the time and her belly was poking out a little farther than usual...most of the time, she could hold it in when her Father told her she was "getting fat", but that was getting harder to do, so she would just wear the same old baggy t-shirt that said "Life is Good" across the front, with an image of a guy in a canoe with his dog. She convinced her Father that it was her "favorite" shirt, so that's why she wore it all the time. Sally wasn't stupid though, she knew what was causing everything...it was her brother's girlfriends fault. Sally was the 4th child of a family with 12 kids. She had 3 older brothers, 4 younger brothers and 4 younger sisters. Her Mother had been pregnant for as long as Sally could remember and was pregnant yet again. Sally decided early on that she would not end up like her Mother. Sometimes days would go by and she would not even see her Mother at all, especially now that she was "old enough" to take care of all the household chores and make sure her younger siblings were fed and did their homework. Sally dreamed of the day she could leave this place, this life and have a life of her own. She loved animals and wanted to dedicate her life to taking care of them, somehow. Her best friend, Ramona, lived right down the road and was an only child. Ramona had the best life! Her parents were wonderful and so kind. They invited Sally to do everything with them, but she could only go every now and then, because of her household duties. Ramona had just turned 13 and got a horse for her birthday. She let Sally help her name him and they named him "Wildfire", like the song Sally used to hear her Mother singing in the kitchen when she was younger...she hadn't heard her Mother sing in at least 5 years and she missed hearing it because her Mother had the best voice of anyone Sally had ever heard. 

With her growing belly, Sally knew she had to tell someone, so she decided to tell Ramona and swore her to secrecy. It started when she was 10. Her oldest brother was 15 at the time and didn't know what he was doing, so it all started off a little awkward and gentle, even though it was horrible and the worst feeling Sally could ever imagine happening to her in her whole life, ever! But he would "reward" her every time she let him have his way with her and she got to the point where she tolerated it, because one time he brought her a Kitten and that made it all worth it to her. But the last year had been different...he had become rougher, more violent. He even slapped her once while he was on top of her for no reason. She threatened to tell their Father and he told her if she did, he would kill her Kitten and dismember it and smear it's blood all over her bed and she believed him, because she had seen him do it to a Squirrel and a Possum. He made her watch, because he was teaching her a lesson. He blamed his girlfriend for the increased violence of his attacks on Sally, because his girlfriend was a "virgin" and refused to let him have his way with her, so Sally got the brunt of that pent up frustration. Sally hated his girlfriend and wished he could meet another girl that would have sex with him and maybe he would finally leave her alone.

Ramona was devastated by the story Sally told her and begged her to tell her Mother. Ramona's Mother loved Sally and treated her like her own daughter. Sally was so smart and such a beautiful child that Ramona's parents had even once asked Sally if she would like to stay with them. Of course, Sally's parents wouldn't even consider it and neither would Sally, since her family needed her help at home. Ramona's Mother had had several miscarriages after Ramona was born and finally decided she would not be able to have anymore children, so she spoiled Ramona and gave her everything she wanted. With her persuasion, Sally decided talking to Ramona's mother was something she had to do, since her situation was dire and she knew if she didn't tell somebody soon, her secret would be out and there would be no way to hide it anymore. But she was terrified thinking about what her brother would do if he found out she told. Ramona's mother had a plan. One of her best friends was an amazing doctor and agreed to examine Sally without having her parents consent. It was determined that Sally was about 3 months pregnant, but the state they lived in no longer allowed abortions, so Sally would have to give birth. Ramona's mother felt like she had to do something. Here was her daughter's best friend, barely 13 years old and pregnant with her own brother's baby and the current law was going to force her to have it. She had all sorts of thoughts running through her head...she and her husband could keep Sally at their house and then adopt the baby when it was born, but HOW was that going to help Sally. Sally herself was a child and forcing a child to have a baby should, in itself, be against the law! How could anything about that be right! It wasn't Sally's fault she had become pregnant. And then there was Sally's brother. He was now 18 years old, so he should be arrested and put in jail for rape, incest and causing great harm to his little sister for years! Sally begged Ramona's mother not to go to the police, or tell her parents...she needed time to think about things. She promised her she would wait a few days, but something had to be done soon.

Sally loved Wildfire and spent most of the time she was at Ramona's house out in the pasture, or the barn, brushing him, talking to him and telling him that "one day, you and I will ride off into the sunset and never come back". She knew she could tickle him under his belly and it would make him kick...she and Ramona would tickle him all the time and he would kick and snort and show his teeth, like he was laughing right along with them. He loved them both to bits! He would stand at the gate and snort every time he saw Sally's bicycle coming up the road. 

Ramona's family had gone into town one day and when they got home, they could see Wildfire standing in the middle of the pasture with his head down. Sally's bicycle was in their driveway and her Kitten was sitting in a cardboard box filled with all of it's toys and treats. As they got closer, they could see something on the ground where Wildfire was standing...it was Sally. She had taken a long piece of straw, stood behind Wildfire and tickled his belly. Like he always did, he kicked with such force, he kicked Sally in the stomach, causing her to hemorrhage. She miscarried the baby, but she lost too much blood. Sally died before the ambulance could get there. She had a piece of paper crumpled up in her hand and all it said was "please tell my brother I'm sorry". 

the end

What we have to remember is that, it's not about the baby!

Drawing Challenge!

Our drawing challenge this week!!! These are so much fun! Everyone in the group is having a blast creating their stories. So, here's mine:

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So much fun!! Happy Thursday!! A new drawing challenge will start tomorrow. If you would like to join us, here's the group link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/youcandrawit
Seize the day! Love and peace always ~ Kathy
A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others.
― Salvador Dali

Living in Wildness...

 
It's that magical time of year! Time when all of the Spring Wildflowers start waking up from their Winter naps. Yesterday we found this gorgeous "Yellowroot", sprouting up along the banks of the Davidson River in Pisgah National Forest. Besides being beautiful, it's medicinal properties are amazing! "Yellowroot is an anti-inflammatory and a natural antibiotic. This plant can help in the treatment of sinus infections, bladder issues, cold/flu symptoms, sore throat, laryngitis, mouth sores, colitis, gastritis, congestion of the chest, and even earaches. Yellowroot is also uterine tonic and a digestive aid. It is an excellent liver stimulant and is useful in soothing the mucus membranes. Its’ cooling astringent qualities allow it to reduce any phlegm. Its versatility allows it to be used in a variety of different ways. Some of which include, as a mouthwash, tea, tinctures, eyewashes, salves, douches, and even ear drops. Can also be used to treat female health conditions including PMS and yeast infections. It has also been found that it can be helpful in lowering blood pressure."
And even though the water is still freezing cold, it warmed my soul, just standing in it and seeing all of the beautiful rocks and clean, clear water. Made me feel so grateful. As I was walking around, my eye caught something and, upon looking a little closer, it was a beautiful little Eastern Garter Snake! My first Snake medicine encounter of the year!! I was so happy!

You can be in the worst funk ever and spend just an hour in nature and your whole outlook will change! Try it! It's so healing and good for your heart and soul! 

Happy Spring!!!!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” ~ Margaret Atwood

Your Life's Work!

 
My version of "Legs Up the Wall" Yoga Pose!

So this year I'll be 61 years old! I've been thinking a lot about "what" my life's work actually is? Sometimes I think was it my job when I was working at a Life Insurance Company for 20+ years, a group of Financial Advisors for 5+ years, a CPA for several years, or is it what I did outside of my "job" that would be considered my "life's work". But, in reality, I think my "life's work" has nothing to actually do with work itself. It's the "time" I spend working on myself and doing what I love to do that has become my "life's work". And then I read an article from a website I follow "Daily Om" and this is what it said about your "life's work" and I thought, YES, that's exactly it!!!

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"Sometimes it takes us the better part of a lifetime to discover our life's work, even though we may have been doing it our whole lives without necessarily realizing it. Our life's work is not always what we do to make money, although we often think it should be, and sometimes this way of thinking prevents us from seeing clearly what it is. It may be the work of having children, caring for them, and running a household. The way we know our life's work is by how we feel when we are doing it.

When we are doing our life's work, we feel an uncanny sense of ease and alignment. This doesn't mean that the work is always easy, and it doesn't mean that it's the only work we have to do; it just means that there is a conviction deep inside us that tells us we are in tune with our innermost self. When we are engaged in our life's work, our bodies feel more alive, because our energy is devoted to a cause that, in turn, feeds us. We may be tired after engaging in our life's work, but we are almost never depleted. We feel grounded in the world, knowing that we belong here and have something important to offer. 

When we are deeply unhappy, depressed, or subject to one illness after another, this may be due to a sense of disconnection from our life's work. At times like these, finding the work we are meant to do is an essential act of healing. Most of us remember a time when we felt fully engaged in some act of work, service or creativity, and it is here that we may rediscover the work we are meant to do now. On the other hand, it may be time to explore what inspires us through volunteering, taking a class, going back to school, or just doing whatever it is we long to try. We all have callings, and when we find them, we owe it to ourselves to nurture and protect them, because while they may or may not be our livelihood, they are the keys to our wellbeing."

So now I truly believe my "life's work" is discovery! Being a steward of our land, it has been very important to me to learn as much as I can about "who" lives here and "what" grows here. It is truly fascinating to find rare plants, lichens, wildflowers and mushrooms that might only grow in the Appalachians! My motto now is "never stop learning" And today I did some forest yoga, while talking to my "tree therapist"...that tree knows a lot about me!

I hope you have discovered your "life's worth", but, if not, there is plenty of time...just think about it! In the meantime, enjoy this adorable little Bobcat that visited one of our ponds!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

"Your most important work in this lifetime may not be your job. It's a conviction within your soul, recognizable if you allow it to shine." --- the Daily Om

You Can Draw it!

Last week I had my Son and his partner in town to go see the "Van Gogh Immersive experience" at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville! I have to say, it was quite amazing!

The floor was even moving!

The whole experience lit a fire in all of us, so it's time to start drawing again! Please join our drawing group "You can Draw it" on facebook, if you're not already a member. I can't wait to see what you create! 

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 Ready to start drawing!!! It's all about the journey!! 

love and peace always ~ Kathy

"There may be a great fire in our hearts, yet no one every comes to warm himself at it, and the passers-by see only a wisp of smoke." ~ Vincent Van Gogh