The Red Book

After a very exhausting and emotional month I dug out my copy of The Red Book and settled into my couch for an evening of reading. I needed something to connect with after this challenging time. Following your bliss has it's share of trials and lessons that need to be learned and it is hard to ignore these lessons.

But after rereading parts of Sera Beak's book I feel so much better! Sera's book feels like that best friend that makes you feel comfortable with who you are and what you are going through. She tells her story that is so easy to connect with and now I realize that I am not that Island that I have been feeling like all month. I highly recommend this book if you want to understand what following your bliss actually feels like and you need a reminder that it is all part of the path. I admire you Sera Beak!

Today was full of errands that needed to happen for me to make candles next week. I had to pick up wax, oils and order more supplies. I also needed new work out shoes and drooled over some Frye boots while I was at it. Tomorrow is cleaning and preparing my studio for the next month of intense candle making. I even started the ball rolling on getting my packaging designed for my new york sale. Busy bee~

First Day of Fall

I can not believe it is fall already! For Seattle's first day of fall it is supposed to get as warm as 91 degrees. That does not seem very fall like....

Lately I have been doing a lot of fall cleaning and cleansing, inside and outside. It has been good to shed things in my life that have not been working so well. I finally started to feel the effects today. I am in a much calmer and more peaceful place than I have been in the last few weeks. I am slowing down my mind chatter and getting in touch with my thoughts vs. what others think I should do. It has been a much needed and welcomed change.

I have also been making more intention candles and settling into the art of making intention pillar candles. I even made a new candle that is dedicated to the Goddess Fortuna. I think she deserves an Odessa's Herbals candle. I even learned my first lesson from her while making her a candle. Do not our The Goddess Fortuna a candle in haste. She will cause all the hot wax to leak out and burn your fingers. One must take their time making this candle and it will come out perfectly if you do but working without thought or too quickly and you will be back to square one.

Moving the body

I tend to think of myself as a person that is in touch with herself. Over the last two months I have been having flashes about going to a gym. I was not a member of a gym but everyday this urge was getting stronger and stronger. So finally this week I signed up! Which I am happy about. What is even better is that these last few weeks have been hard on me. My thoughts are up in the air and I am at a cross roads and not sure which way to turn.

Joining the gym and moving my body has been the best gift I could have given myself while I work through this transition. My spine has responded well to this new part of my physical rehab and I feel stronger than ever.

I am preparing for the New York sale while trying to work through some of my stress. It has been a hard time lately. Even I suffer from worry about the economy, job loss and the fact that I have been unable to work for almost two years. But I just keep my level of gratitude up and keep on going to the gym because after an hour of working out while I am sitting in the steam bath I can feel the stress melting off my shoulders. It is hard to worry while taking good personal care of myself. That is now my number one priority!

Learning to go at a different pace

For a few weeks recently this lovely animal was living in the park up the street from me. I live in the middle of Seattle but I get giddy over the fact that an animal like this cougar could make it's way to my local park. I am grateful he did not find his way to my animals but I do miss having him in the neighborhood. It was fun to hear of cougar sightings around my hood and it is still unbelievable that some thing this wild would be only two blocks away.

My major lesson this week has revolved around learning to go at Divine pace. I am an impatient person and this has been good in some ways in my past but now it is getting in my way. I need to learn to slow down and let go. Not an easy task for me but I am trying to slow down. This is a different lesson from last year where I needed to learn balance in my life after my illness brought me down. Now I need to learn to go with the flow and not expect miracles in a wink of an eye.

Sometimes the best things in life take time and lessons to manifest. I keep reminding myself this. I live one day at a time but then expect things to happen really fast. There is some middle ground between living one day at a time and looking at time on a larger basis. I just don't know how to see it this way yet.

I am beginning to prepare for the holiday show on the East Coast. It has been a little slow to start since the warm weather in Seattle has caused my candle making process to take about four times longer than in the winter times. I am trying to enjoy the sun but really I am looking forward to cold weather and peaceful candle making.

I made a new candle this week to help a client rekindle the romance in her long term marriage. I can't wait to hear (some) of the details on how it works. I admire that after so many years she still has romance in her marriage as well as partnership.

Holiday orders are coming in

Today I started to receive holiday orders and it is going to be a busy next few months! I have so much to do. But I am very excited about this new holiday season and all the work I have to look forward too.

I have been watching Monarch of the Glen while making the tea lights lately. It makes me miss Scotland so much! I am due for a visit to see lovely Iona and my dear friends I have not seen in ages. Maybe after the holiday orders I can plan a trip overseas. Of course by then I will have new product development to sink my teeth into.

After a lovely week long birthday celebration I have finally hit my energy wall. I am exhausted but in a good way. I am going to take this weekend off to end my birthday celebration with family at my Aunts house. Then it is back to candle making!