A busy week has flown by once again ... sitting here in the studio, Pandora playing softly in the background, coffee in my hand ... the page opens in my journal ... today I am loving ...

Closing my eyes, I begin to fall into the absolute wave of love that surrounds me ... a blessed life.

Although I am not a gardener, I love gardens and use the analogy of gardens to reflect my life adventures, events, challenges, relationships, and soul discovery.  My garden has beautiful flowers oddly arranged with weeds, bugs, clumps of dirt, rich soil, rocks, and plenty of dragonflies, butterflies, hummingbirds and the occasional crow to squawk at me!  SO much love and magic in my garden.  Life would definitely be different if just ONE of those little creatures or flowers or weeds did not exist in my garden ... for you I am grateful.

Tend to your garden with love ...knowing that each addition to your garden brings a message of love ... a message of healing ... a message of Spirit.

Today I am loving the experiences of the week ... the wild return from prayer vigil to seeing the new studio built to the panic of moving to the sadness of family illness to the joy of walking in requests to the love of knowing all is well in this moment of time.

Breathe in the love of your life.  I find great Love rises around me during the darkest times of my life.  Be willing to open your heart to Love, to Spirit, to Abundance, to the Absolute ... today I am loving.

I woke up this morning ... early as usual ... sat to write in my journal and saw the word "hopeful" ... a flood of tears washed my face.

I have been praying so much this week ... for friends who are walking through dark, scary, unknown tunnels of life ... feeling as if their flickering light will fade leaving us all alone.  I have been praying so much this week ... and today I receive hopeful.

Knowing that life changing events are coming this month for my family and friends gives me anxiety ... I just want to remove all the pain right now by the swwiiisssshhhh of my wand or the wiggle of my nose ... ugh, pain. sorrow. sadness. 

And then, I remember my mantra ... no pushing, no pulling, SIT ... and so as I write this morning ... the pen begins to feel lighter on the paper ... I know prayers are heard and in time I will see the magic of prayer ... I am hopeful.

I am hopeful for the healing of those hearts that are aching right now ... I smile through the tears knowing that all is perfect and as a human I tend to gravitate towards the imperfections of life and how all the pushing and pulling in the world won't budge the imperfections I see ... because truly ... they are perfect ... like the tiny yellow flower bursting out of the pavement crack ... I am hopeful.

Live today in faith, hope, and love.

As I write today, I ponder the power of the word requesting ... to request brings a sensation of empowerment, truth, trust, honor, and respect ... to request brings depth into a relationship that promotes community, equality, partnership, and love.

Words are powerful.

Today I request mindful communication ... to bring attention to your intention ... what are you truly requesting?

I sometimes find myself in conversations and realize that the other person has a specific outcome, but is playing the conversation game with me ... you know the game ... the one where about 95% of the truth is told and the critical 5% is held back to slam the door in your face.  Drives me crazy ... simply state your request and be willing to hear the outcome.  My Dad used to say to me "If you aren't willing to hear the answer, don't ask the question!".  Perfect.

Allow the day to be filled with the energy of requesting.  Instead of feeling help-less when you ask a question create a feeling of strength in your body and voice to simply state a request.  I always feel confident when I make a request of my husband or daughter or even in business transactions ... an opportunity for equality steps into the conversation and now each individual feels valued.

Today as you make requests, notice how your posture and voice reflect your strength.  How did the other partner respond to your request?  What did their posture and voice reflect? 

Be the change you wish to see in others ... change your thoughts ... change the world.

The richness of life is before me and today I am drinking the bitter sweet nectar of life.  Have you ever taken a sip of tea ... expecting the rich, sweet taste of the known ... and be surprised by the bitterness?  Not one to turn away from a conversation, I continue to drink the bitter ... the unknown soon becomes familiar, comfortable ... I begin to acquire a taste for the bitter tea ... to become the rich, sweet taste of the known.

This past week has been filled with bitter sweet experiences ... a friend losing her home, a friend anticipating major surgery, a relationship in jeapordy, rain, sunshine, sadness, and joy ... and I continue to hold my teacup in my loving hands ... praying for the richness of life to unfold ... bitter and sweet.

During my prayer vigil we learned a woman's prayer and one phrase is "may all women have fresh, clean water to drink" ... I love this phrase because when I find the underbelly of phrases, I allow my body, mind, and spirit to seek the possibilities to create a masterful weave of life ... a colorful tapestry.

Today I am drinking the fresh, clean waters of life ... bitter and sweet ... each sip giving me choice, resolution, curiosity, and thought.  I drink today knowing that the circumstances surrounding me ... exist ... now I have the option to act or to sit ... to complain or to change ... to ignore or to respond ...

How are you drinking in the magic of your life today?  Time to write, reflect, walk, and dream.  Time to nourish your body, mind, and spirit with the wisdom life holds for you today.  The drink may be sweet or bitter ... but the drink is held in your loving, courageous, brave hands ... nourish and sustain your life.