Author Archives: Andrea

A funny fondest memory

I spoke to a many-lifetimes-together soulmate friend the other day and we were talking about the good old days. He told me one of his fondest memories was of me putting him in his place when he kept hitting on me during meditation sessions. “You really got mad – that is not what this is about,” he mocked. I’d told him he would have a shakti reaction, that the breath work we were doing together would activate his kundalini and transference would happen, and not to take it personally. It would fade with time and pass soon enough, to just keep doing the work. He laughed, recalling how serious I was. Fondest memory, indeed. Brat.

I spend Monday morning at our local county offices

A friend asked me last week if I was drawing my late husband’s Social Security and I did not even know I was entitled to do something like that at age 60. I went to the http://www.ssa.gov/ website and read what they said about widow’s benefits. The first thing on my To do list for today was to go to the local clerk of the court’s office and obtain a certified copy of his 1996 death certificate and take it to the Social Security office to see if I was entitled to anything. Continue reading →

Sunday, funday, more uncluttering and space clearing

This morning I awoke early and well rested after yesterday’s uncluttering. I began in the garage, first driving my Prius out onto the driveway so I had an empty space as a staging area. I first moved my trusty sawhorses into place and made a table by setting on top of them two 1″ x 8″ shelves about 8 feet long. I began pulling items down that were not where they belonged. I made a few stacks of that: string, wire, rope, that would all be placed together somewhere. Duct tape, masking tape, painter’s tape would all go together. Painting supplies by themselves and wood carving supplies on their own. Bicycle maintenance gear will have its own shelf near the compressors. I set my little Ryobi air compressor to charge and swept a clean space on the floor for the heavier electric compressor. I’d set my portable drill to charge the day before, so it was good to go. Continue reading →

The joy and the yoga of cohabitation

I wrote a few months ago that I’d acquired a roommate after more than a dozen years of self imposed solitary living. It’s both a joy and a yoga having someone around all the time. It helps that he’s a best friend and adventure partner as well, and we share many of the same interests. I have odd sleeping and eating patterns, so we often sleep at different times and rarely eat the same meal at the same time. Except late night popcorn! I am used to having giant spans of hours and days not having to speak to anyone, living in my silent world, tv usually muted but on since I use it as caller id. I’ve noticed myself gravitating to more tv now, with the sound on, since there are a few shows we watch together. That can quickly turn into sitting in front of the tv during times I formerly spent watering the plants, doing yoga in the garden, working on home or yard projects, going to the gym, sleeping, and having phone sessions all through the night. Continue reading →

I light incense several times a day, to trigger my mind into conscious awareness of the Now

Mmmm Blue Pearl stick incense, frankincense. I’ve just recently rediscovered that one. I light incense several times a day, to trigger my mind into conscious awareness of the Now moment. In the Now moment, all is well in my world, all are happy and peaceful, we have plenty. I have no complaint whatsoever. What is happening in your Now moment?

A little more uncluttering, some painting and I’ll have my new space

I’m a morning person. I’m up at first light, feet on the floor and ready to get into the day. This past week I’ve been in and out of the garage and shed, moving items, discarding items, recycling items, setting old books aside to give away. I love it when I get on a kick like this, because I always end up with so much more space than I thought I had. I never have much clutter, just the occasional closet or scrap wood pile to organize and straighten up. At dawn this morning after meditation I went out and moved some white shelving and vertical blinds from the garage into the shed, also the bicycle and a straight backed chair. I moved a dozen cardboard boxes out of the shed and into the garage to cut up for recycling. Continue reading →

I am not a fan of the cookie cutter bookseller mass marketeers

*Yawn* Cookie Cutter Marketing

I’ve heard it all by now. A friend sent me a message about an upcoming event and mentioned several authors, one of whom I said I did not follow his work. I wrote, “I know who that (popular and famous) author is, I am not a fan of that whole genre of mass marketing, however I know it’s valuable as some can only “get” an idea once it’s been rehashed and diluted down to a homeopathic dose. Being in the business, I am at the receiving end of many authors and publicists and get everyone’s promotional material. I see what the market gets flooded with and am amused at what and who becomes popular with the buying public, and why.” I was referring to one of the writers who became popular after The Secret came out.

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What was my lesson when I was so judgmental — a chain of consciousness stroll of remembrance

I just found this file, written in the 90’s. Some things never change. “My thoughts after attending an annual, popular metaphysical/spiritual conference: These are the judgmental thoughts I’ve been having after being privy to after hours conversations after some might’ve had a few too many drinks. People who write egotistical press copy about themselves to work the system to become the next celebrity speaker/teacher. Witness a conversation a dozen years ago at one conference: two speakers about becoming famous, it was after the Celestine Prophecy went big. What storyline to create, what products to weave into them and get into the market, what courses to create, etc. People who constantly self reference and self promote and market. People who ingratiate themselves with others to be hosts for their local events, yet all the while talking behind their back. People who are public teachers and yet privately judge (like me right now) and disparage and criticize. People who, throughout their talks, continually talk about what they’ve done and how important they are. Continue reading →

The testing ground for what we truly understand and believe is how we react in the heat of emotion and argument

I am sorry that what I said was not what you heard. You feel what I heard is not what you said. We are in the same conversation having different experiences. For everyone who’s unhappy with me right now for whatever reason, it is never my intent to hurt. There are ways to have disagreements without mocking and being hateful. It’s always possible to have a mature, inclusive dialogue even when we have diverging opinions. It keeps the lines of communication open. Continue reading →

I clear away yet another layer of nonessential stuff

A place for everything and everything in its place

I tackled the decluttering of my shed this morning. I woke up and briefly debated going to the gym, then remembered I wanted to clean up my shed and get it organized, so I opted to do that. I did what works best for me when reorganizing: Take everything out of the room, only put back in what you intend to be there, and have a plan before putting anything back in.