I love that my burst of painting has given me almost two years worth of cover art. Here’s my Ganesh With Bass, he’s the May cover of Horizons. Known as the remover of all obstacles, the first prayer during puja is traditionally to Ganesha. Any auspicious work or project in Hinduism is begun with an invocation to him.  Ganesh’ vehicle is the rat, because the rat can chew thru anything.  I show him here with a bass guitar, painted for the bff, who plays bass in the kirtan band Rayananda. The bass is symbolic with Ganesh, as it provides the bottom and is deep and foundational in nature. It holds the groove and locks the band together. Just so, giving your first prayer to Ganesh before any new undertaking gives it a good foundation and helps hold the vision for its successful completion.  Ganesha can be seen all over my home and office in many forms.

RELATED: Doing a series of paintings as a form of shamanic soul retrieval
Update from the art studio
Painting is a daily meditation for me
Painting as a method of altering consciousness
I like being able to digitally correct my painting faux pas
Introducing Junelle, with open hands to take away your pain
Introducing Moon Gal with Raven and Moonstone
Introducing Rosa of the Aqua Eye

I’ve been studying mystery novels on Kindle the past month. Yes, it’s cool you can publish your Kindle book with no writing experience but please, please learn the basic skills, you can study it online for free. Here’s a good basic checklist. Signed, everyone who has to read it.
http://www.be-a-better-writer.com/creative-writing-tips.html
I’ve not read fiction for years so I wanted to catch up with what’s out there on Kindle since I’m editing April Rane‘s next novel. One month and a dozen+ mysteries later, I appreciate April’s writing skills so much more.

I woke up and wanted to walk right away, I love when that happens! I did 2 miles twice yesterday and 4 the day before. I wouldn’t have begun the walk if I’d have known it was 4 miles. Until I measured it later with my car, I thought it was 2. My own thoughts and beliefs would have limited me and prevented me from beginning, but my thought and expectation that it was just 2 miles allowed me to do it with ease. As always, what I expected and believed to be true came to pass. Cool how that works, huh?

10 benefits of Nordic Walking (walking with walking poles)
Nordic Walking is an outdoors exercise that consists in walking with walking sticks. It is specially beneficial (as aerobic exercise) to strengthen legs, hips, thighs, arms and buttocks. Results can be obtained with only 3 hours of Nordic Walking a week

I’ve been taking several walks each day. For some reason, my legs want to walk. My shins hurt from the extra walking, and I find myself walking a little fast, but this is a strong body and I’m up for it. I’ve been taking just one of my trekking poles with me and sometimes Daddy’s old wooden walking stick. I posted on Facebook that I was taking a day of silence, and a pal wrote: “Not sure if being silent and posting I3, I’m counting 13 posts. How is that being silent?” I told him “LOL thanks for counting and good point! Silence to me comes in stages. The first stage is having no conversations with anyone except myself, entertaining surface thoughts. That’s the stage I’m in. A next stage is deeper thoughts with myself, and I will even share those, since I’m a writer and I journal thoughts. A next stage is thoughts that are unnecessary to share. A next stage is no thought, simply observation and basking in the goodness of It All.  I may not get there this weekend…”   Continue reading →

I’ve been hiding out and taking a few days to myself before jumping into editing April Rane‘s next book. She just sent the Prologue and Chapter One. I’m excited. I enjoyed the first mystery, Magnolia Murders.  I’m stoked she’s top rated in Amazon’s vigilante justice. There’s a preview at the link if you’re into sexy suspense thrillers –> http://booksgosocial.com/2015/03/25/the-magnolia-murders-louisiana-lady-book-one/

YinYang just drank a bunch of water then stepped outside and, um, powdered her nose in the backyard right in front of me. After what seemed like an extraordinarily productive session, she got all frisky, running back and forth then waaaaay up a tree. Drink more water all the time, Yinnie, then it won’t be such a celebration each time you poop.

A healthy, hydrated system doesn’t get constipated

I love spending holidays alone as days to reflect on my life.  About mid morning, an older red compact minivan with dark tinted windows drove by my house 3 times looking at it so intently they did not see me standing by the hedge watching them as I watered. I drove out to follow and make sure they weren’t lost. A few blocks away they began speeding through the neighborhoods to lose me. I figured I don’t need to be chasing anyone who’s acting crazy. All who wander aren’t lost.  I went for a great ride along the ocean, then bought two garden hoses and a sprinkler at WalMart. I chilled at home and did the laundry, Rain-Xed my windshield, watered the plants, transplanted some cuttings, walked a few miles, talked to the neighbor. I ended the day sitting on the back porch drinking apple juice and basking in the day’s glow.  I spent so many years having to spend holidays at certain houses because of family and social obligations, that now, I am thrilled to be free to stay home on a holiday. Friends and family, I love ya but… Free at last, not kidding.

4-25-15 Update: the mystery of the crazy driving red van on Easter morning has been solved. One looking just like it just picked up the two neighbor kids at the end of the street.

Image templeofthejaguar.wordpress.com

This Good Friday’s astrological aspects are the Sun Trine Jupiter and Uranus Square Pluto.  Sun trine Jupiter brings luck and expansion. This is generally a good time to schedule new beginnings in business, education, personal relationships, marriage, creative projects. Maybe it doesn’t feel like a good time to you.  Life for many people has been riddled with curveballs. The rug has been unceremoniously pulled out from under you.  Not much has come easily. In order to pass “Go,” you’ve had to face your own shadow nature and take a hero’s journey. Rash moves and thoughtless actions have met harsh consequences. This no time to live an unexamined life.

Things are happening…even when they aren’t. Trust the “invisible realm.”

Since Pluto rules the underworld, things might be happening that aren’t apparent in tangible form yet. You may feel like you’re spinning your wheels when you aren’t. You’re just allowing a situation to undergo its due process. With impatient Uranus jumping the gun, it’s hard to remember that progress can also take time. Divine timing is where it’s at now. Time plays tricks on us—being the greatest test of our ability to stick to our beliefs or convictions.  Even with the harshest of planetary events, there’s always a greater lesson or opportunity. Here are a few suggestions for how you can navigate this:   Continue reading →

April Rane, circa mid 90’s

Yesterday I met with April Rane and we spent the morning going over the details of the upcoming second book in her mystery series, Louisiana Lady. Much of what we spoke of was technical stuff, like software compatibility. We met for breakfast at The Blueberry Muffin across from the ocean in Indialantic. When I saw the red Mustang pull in, I knew it was hers. I wore red and black and thought she might, too. I was wrong, she wore a deep orange and black. We both ordered our coffee black, with Sweet & Low. We ordered the same breakfast: eggs and potatoes, no toast. I’ve known April for 25+ years as a metaphysical teacher and psychic reader. We spent a few minutes catching up about current events and mutual friends, then discussed Magnolia Murders; Louisiana Lady, the first book in her mystery series. I just finished some technical editing for the print version and next will edit her second novel, Bogota Baby. I can’t wait!  We spent some time talking about the characters and how Amazon tracks book sales, then we drove to her home. April lives on AIA in Melbourne Beach and when I saw her place, it exactly fit her. April is very elegant and understated and her home reflects that. A great location with an ocean view, I thought of it as a mini mansion. A reception area, a parlor, lovely bedrooms and large bathrooms, a pool, sunlight flooding in everywhere, but behind cool blinds and shades. The office was my favorite, exactly the kind of room you can imagine a suspense author working from. Her feline familiar stayed close by and liked being talked to but not touched. We talked about our writing styles and habits. I think we’ll have fun working together and am looking forward to it.

Hello and welcome to the April 2015 edition of Horizons Magazine. It feels good to be back in the gym on a regular basis again. It’s too easy to get out of the habit, to tell myself that I need to do computer work instead, or that my yard work constitutes a workout. When I do the gym first thing in the morning before I go into the office, that lets my work day flow more freely and it’s a more productive and satisfying day. And my life is all about what satisfies me.  I’ve learned that changing a habit is as simple as training myself to have discipline over where I chose to place my focus. When I immerse myself in the world of that which I strive to be, I attract the circumstances and events that support my vision. If I want to get fit and strong, I’ll spend more time in the gym or Googling to learn about muscle structure. I’ll spend less time watching cooking shows or cat videos and talking with friends about fashion. Staying focused and on purpose helps me attract what I want. It’s up to me.   Continue reading →