Dorothy's Sacrecrow

Ah, this brings me to the movie.......Wizard of Oz. Dorothy's first companion on the Yellow Brick Road is the very confused and lost Scarecrow. She "finds" him, but in reality it is he who finds her, he who shows her what real connection is about. Being that kind of friend who is there, always, no matter what. The first to stride alongside her on her fearless journey; he craved a brain.....yet the one he carried, born innate within him held great wisdom. He already owned what he sought. (we all do, ya know)

When it came time to say good bye and return to Kansas, she whispered to him "I think I'll miss you most of all". (ah, sigh......)

Many is the time I have moved on from a place, a group, a situation, and the good byes were never easy. Often, there has been one main soul that I connected with, and when this part of my journey was complete, I let them know that they were my Scarecrow......I would miss them most of all. Upon the departing, I left them with the knowledge that they were special to me, I had paid attention and saw that them walking  this experience with me did not go unnoticed or unappreciated. The gift they had given me was returned.....gratefully.

Who are the scarecrows in your life? Do they know they fill this sacred space for you? Why don't you tell them....today?

Mistakes

Interesting word.....MISTAKE, "mis" took something.......a "mis" take, try again, do it over, get it right next time..... stop missing.......this is the call of our brain when we happen to make a mistake.

Hmmmmmm......wait a minute....aren't we human? Isn't a HUGE part of being human making mistakes. How else do we learn what TO DO if don't learn what NOT TO DO first?

So, fellow human.........allow your mistakes with great gratitude......look to them as you would look to a teacher or an icon in your life.

Making  mistakes is ok, my friend, so let yourself off the hook, huh? When you reflect on the past year as the New one is birthed.......give credit to your mistakes, for they are a part of the plan, the reason for you being where you are today. Embrace them, ask them what wisdom they have to share with you.

It is a brave soul who can walk with their mistakes instead of running from them.

Use "exhumed" in a sentence! (beautifully)!

Exhumed.......such an odd word to mingle beautifully into a song, but he did it!
:)

The truth, once again, bold and beautiful in our faces......love comes and we honor it yet, in the morning we fear we may lose it.

Now that we love, how do we make love stay?
How do we trust?
How do we keep our self sabotaging ways at bay?

Sometimes there is no concrete answer.

Choices

Reckless Pride

Rolled into secret spaces

Denying yourself

Love's embraces

Crevices to hide

Your pain

Yet hoping still

 Love will be gained

For  Love, 'tis true

is not an emotion

Rather a decision

rendering sweet commotion

Blissful angst

we often fear

Yet, we are empty

when it is not near

Allow the echos

of your prayers

To be answered

as you linger at the stairs

Let the answer

be:

"I'm ready now

to light the dark

Please show me how

to halt the never ending voices

that tell me love can not be found

Illuminate Love's many choices

and set my feet on steadfast ground"

Meandering

As I recall the moments in my life fondly, I can see, feel and touch the images, faces and energies of those fellow humans who have meandered into my awareness.

Today, I am thinking of my DanFam, and how we all gathered at the Etched Boulders along the majestic river watching the hawks and turkey vultures glide upon the Gypsy Wind of the moment. I can smell the air,  and feel the love and pain dangling in the spaces between our melded thoughts, it is palpable.  Now that I know so many of you, I can see us all in our collective, healing embrace. We are mourning in grateful unison, because we have been led to the same place magically like wandering gypsies. Now owning similar memories and striding along a path towards healing that we walk together. We are family.......be us close or distant in the flesh, we are soothed in soul always because we meandered into connected awareness that summer.

In honor of those who walk this pathway with me.........I love you, you soothe me, and I still feel your wind playing on my face, Gypsies.

The East

Ah, the morning sky.....each new day we are greeted with the rising, circular, never ending sun. The direction of the East is devoted to the newness of each day, each decision, each newborn beginning that we choose to engage in and become a part of. The opportunity is ours...... to begin again, anew and open to the possibilities that await use around the bend, around the corner, or around the world.

How do you choose to greet the day? Please consider this question and realize.....you have choices about how you observe the day, greet the day and then live that day.

What changes can you make in your life by birthing a new reaction to each new day? Choose to greet the morning sky with wonder,  peace and a sense of pure gratitude!

Sing your song........

 Today, on the Winter Solstice, I am feeling held, supported and warm in spite of the wet, deep snow that lurks just outside the shelter of my safe cocoon-like space. I realize that I have a song, innate within me, that was composed for my soul only to sing. When I stand upon the "stage" and open my mouth to share my aria, I am lifted higher on my path and in my purpose. When I allow the vibration of my truth to mingle with the invisible notes of your song, magic is manifested. We are fulfilling a contract, an agreement to show up in each others lives and  engage for a moment, an hour, a lifetime. Here we are, simultaneously, in synergistic harmony......connecting.

Will you sing your soul's song, so that I may blend and weave mine in concert alongside the music you create? Be my "soul musical" co-creator.....if you dare!

Goodbye....

My heart is humbled immeasurably today. We met in unison to honor Dan early this morning, on the third anniversary of his passing.  More than 400 fans and humans who loved Dan took time to just be in collective, still remembrance.This all came about because my friend and fellow DanFam member risked and stepped forward in her purpose and invited us all to join her in respectful tribute to our mentor, guide and bestest pal when we needed one.....Daniel Grayling Fogelberg.

It has been a deep day, a day that has seen new friendships, old memories and wounded hearts continuing on their healing journeys.

When you see me fly away without you
Shadow on the things you know
Feathers fall around you
And show you the way to go...
It's over, it's over

The above lyrics are from the song Birds, the song Dan recorded as he was departing this dimension to continue his work on the Astral Plane.When I hear this song, I see Jean, Dan's soulmate, in my mind and I send her waves of healing energy and immense gratitude, for she gave him what he gave us....love, peace, understanding and a soft place to fall.

This is the song that 'randomly' showed itself to me today as I sat down to write this entry. And I know, Dan is saying goodbye, and that we should say those things that never came today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Zb4tE6aCc

Echos.....

Are there echos of your past returning to haunt you? Do they fall before you endlessly...like the ticker tape in a  parade with no fanfare, no fans, just you and your tormenting thoughts playing over and over again?

What message does the ticker tape reveal? Look at it, see it in your mind's eye..... what message repeats?

Allow these messages to teach you, to show you the place where you can begin to heal from within.

If your message contains self doubt.......use that doubt to shine light in the dark space between your echo and your truth. What is the real truth lying just below the surface?

Let the messages that repeat be a code for redemption, a hard place to start so you can find that soft place to retreat to....the soft place that is your truth.

There is no word....

Did you know that Native Americans have no word for NATURE? This is because in their culture we are all the same, the birds, the trees, the four leggeds......we are all part of the same system. We are all one, we are all equal. There is no need to differentiate.

I leave you with that thought for today.

Ever Green

What is in a name
How do you define yourself
Do you answer them
when they call you

Or, do you
find your own self
In the world
In nature, in a process

Are you a spirit free
of chains
or.....a prisoner to
a label, a name, an idea

I was once known
as another
I chose to
be known as me

Me is I
I am me
I am Harmony
and
Ever GREEN

Can't find the words

Let the words find you. Interesting that just as we are entering another Mercury Retrograde with all its messy communication issues that this song should show itself. We all have such a hard time telling people what we think, a hard time expressing our needs, our thoughts, our desires. Why is it that we allow others to dictate our voices, our inner truth, our true selves?

Today I ask you to RISK, BE BRAVE and tell someone how you feel, what you think, what you KNOW......even if it's hard to say.......

Face the Truth

I am beginning to see a very solid theme in Dan's lovely lyrics that I have to admit I did not catch fully until right now. This is one of the many gifts he has given, songs that continue to speak to us even after we have downloaded them into our very beings, our very souls.

TRUTH.......the pursuit of it, the rape of it, the beauty of it, the never ending challenge of allowing it to live within us. The ability to freely express it within our vulnerable, fearful human nature.

The truth that is our own has become the cornerstone and foundation of my purpose in this lifetime. I am a Spiritual Doula, assisting others in birthing their paths.

Dan assisted me in birthing my path, so by being me I am spreading his truth, our truth, THE truth that binds us all together, like the glue that is his songbook. The soundtracks of our lives....

NOW

This is the time of your life. Why? Because the only important aspect of time is NOW.

I want you to realize that you can begin anew NOW, every second is NOW, everyday.

Make the most of NOW, and you will never question time again.

Enjoy what is in front of you.... NOW.

Free Feet Flow......

Consider the river, be it massive or minuscule
Be it raging, pristine or dry
Does it flow easy or minimal
Does it answer to nature or ask why

Why am I here, where am I going
Does it flow with a guided direction
Or because of a deep inner knowing
that it is free from ego and self rejection

Consider the river and its current
Consider it as your life's metaphor
Does it render you secluded in a turret
or allow you to achieve even more

More than you could see yourself achieving
Making dreams and goals reality
When in yourself you are believing
Your life holds no finality

For free feet flow
with purpose and endless motion
As the river knows
it shall flow endlessly to the ocean

Are your stories your truth?

This post brought to you by : THE TRUTH

Yes, ladies and gentlemen......the truth shall set you free.

Tell me the truth if you have to. Tell me your truth, oh, do you have to? Yes, I want to know your truth, the reason why you walk this planet now, why are you here? Has someone been handing you stories that are lies? Are you walking a lie...... wasting time walking a path of ignorance, shielding your eyes and heart from the truth that brought you here.....NOW?

Look in the mirror, see past the bullshit.......let those eyes of yours light the fire of the truth inside you.

If someone's been giving you knowledge that is false, look at that false face and rid yourself of it.

Ah, surprise....


YOU

OWN

THAT

FALSE

FACE.

Between The Pines

He strode along,
mind full of song
Ready to pen the
future he was to live

He came upon
a sacred lawn
The lawn did house
2 pines

These pines
they spoke
his soul
to him

He felt
the kindred nature
of the roots below
and his heart above

This peaceful man
whose soul
did meld
with ours, the ones
who held
his gift

In open hands
and open hearts
with thirsty minds
and parts of plans

And dreams
realized only
in mystical
far away lands

While in the company
of these
ancient pines
strong against wind
yet growing true

He began the journey
of his lifetime
that would connect
me...... with you

We sat among
those trees so wise
Our souls carried on
the breeze

That blew our tears
to meet his own
Where boulders sit etched
and Pines shed their cones

Promises in the dark...

We make promises to ourselves
in the dark
when no one else can hear
We shatter those promises with
first light

We fear love
in the dark
in the light we
cringe at the sight
of the person in the mirror

Feeling forsaken
in the dark
When no one else can hear
we forsake ourselves
Breaking the promises...always

Lonely survivors
in the dark
in the light
in the day
in the night

Promises are meant to be
honored, always
in the dark
in the light
in the mirror

Moving away from those we encounter....

Oh, to be intertwined with another soul...to be connected in time, space and intention, to be melded in purpose.

Then, suddenly..............we look to the side, we reach for that hand, only to find that other soul has moved on. Perhaps in the physical or to a new path that they are meant to walk. We find ourselves without them.........what do we do? We must learn to release, honor and thank that soul for risking and walking with us, if only for a short time.

As is the case with Dan, who was here on the planet for a brief time, changing lives everyday with his poetic wisdom. Being very humble and grounded, focused, but evolving. Serious and silly, loving and being loved. Giving love and losing love...... all the while gaining the experience that he used to create his magic.

As a member of the recently formed DanFam, I realize that even though he is physically gone, Dan gave us all such a gift....the gift of connection, of love, of respect. We are now part of something even larger than we could have imagined......and he did this when he left. Even in the leaving, he has gifted us in ways we never could have predicted or expected.

So, DanFam, let's sing those old songs we know and love, the ones that have become a part of our very souls. This time, let's sing a little more slowly......

Rising from the ashes of ourselves....part 1

Who are you?
Why are you?
Where are you headed?

Common questions, common "perplexions". Where are the answers? Why are they so elusive?

The answers lie within, deep within. We have covered them with bad relationships, addictions and lies. We fear our own success, so often we cover it up with ding dongs and ho-hos, and restrictions and shoulds and shouldn'ts. With shopping sprees and self deprications, with drugs and alcohol and other mind numbing activities. We cut our skin to feel something, we inflict pain on our outer selves as a way to control and quiet the pain inside ourselves.

Why do we do this?
Who are we trying not to be?
What the fuck is wrong with us?

Goin the Long Way.....

In this world of hustle, bustle and automatic pilot movement without thought, we often attempt to cut corners by finding the quickest route from point A to point B. Have you noticed that life has gotten less intriguing when we cut corners on our journey? It becomes predictable, safe and BORING!!!!!!

And, really, what journey that is worth living or being engulfed in has only two destinations.....the beginning and the end. Often on our way to point B, we need to backtrack to Point A, only to find Point C has shown up unexpectedly, and along for the ride is Point WTF????? We could NEVER have seen that coming.

It is often at POINT WT and F that we fully live the journey, all the good, bad and the ugly of the journey. In the future, once the journey is complete, we will reflect and recall the lessons learned during our forays into POINTs WT and F. If there were no WTF moments in life, what would life be but predictable, safe and boring? What lessons would there be to learn, what stories would we tell and what in the hell would we be grateful for?

Next time you step on your path to move towards POINT B from POINT A, watch for and welcome the other 24 POINTS that make themselves known to you. Be aware as you move from place to place, from situation to situation, from relationship to relationship. Go the long way, or maybe just the wrong way, we'll never know.

The long way...........it's part of life, people.

More things less....

As I lay down to enter into a long mediation this afternoon, I was seeking answers about issues I was encountering.

My business has been in flux for a while, and I know that many amazing changes, transmutations and transitions await me. My questions centered around my human mind demanding to know "what to do".

This makes me chuckle as I write those words........as if some magic action will make itself known to me, complete with instructions to follow..... and in the execution of that action, relief of my stress will be the reward. Hah! Silly human!

As I was drifting off to the place I go to seek commune with peace, I heard myself think "Oh, yes, I need to do that more" (that refers to whatever my mind was processing). It was then I heard the answer loud and clear........."do not do some things more....do more things less."

In that instant I knew exactly what this pertains to...............get out of your own way, Harmony, lest you fuck this up!

Today, I adopt the new paradigm of being a more-less doer.
Care to join me?

Quieted soul

Ah, to be still, to be silent.....to just......BE.

I find myself longing for moments of alone-ness, pure, sweet peace, quiet and solitude. In this atmosphere, I can listen to nothing, be enveloped in nothing and feel the calmness of nothing.

In the nothing-ness of quiet stillness I can hear my own thoughts, my own beliefs and I can also be free of those thoughts and beliefs. Because in the stillness all that matters is.......nothing.

Ah, to be still, to be silent, to be.....nothing.

Time to stop......running

Have you been questioned about the path you are walking? How do you respond?

Have you questioned your own path? How do you respond to yourself when you do question yourself? It is healthy to question sometimes, to make sure you are where you need to be.

When is it time to STOP questioning, stop running and BE you?

For every reason to stay, do you find a reason to run?

My challenge to you.....is find a reason to STOP, LOOK and LISTEN..........stop running, be who you are.

Remember, we live a lifetime of chance, what if you are missing your chance of a lifetime by running every time it gets close?

Slow down, listen......BE you!

Pathways......

The paths we follow often intersect with the paths of others. We may be gifted with a brief encounter with these other walkers of the path, or they settle into our lives to become a fixture we cherish; like an old book, or the blanket we wrap around ourselves. The comfort the connection brings is long lasting and nourishing.

The interesting truth is that both interactions are powerful and sacred. The brevity of an encouter carried quickly away on the winds of change can be as life altering as the longevity of the one who stays.

Treat your path and the way it leads you as sacred in all ways. Allow the fluctuations and undulations, the steep climbs and the gentle planes to teach you all the vast wisdom they possess.

Walk your path aware, astounded and always with humble gratitude.

My life according to Dan Fogelberg...

If you had the opportunity to choose the soundtrack for your life, which musician's, artist's and poet's work would you showcase on your compilation? These would be the songs, poems and narrations you would hear in the background if you were watching your life on a movie screen.

Perhaps you have never pondered this question; never really thought about it.

For me, only one person would be showcased on my soundtrack. I am a fan of many, but one man alone has this honor! This person, as you may have guessed, is Daniel Grayling Fogelberg (August 13, 1951 – December 16, 2007). I hear his songs and am instantly transported back in time to a moment or segment of my life where his liquid poetry supported me through life's trials and victories. Even today as I listened, I heard notes I had not heard before or a phrase lingered for a few seconds longer then I recalled. Complete and beautiful poetry. Complete and beautiful respite, restoration and peace for me.

He knew my heart, me knew my pain, he knew my triumphs. He knew me.

On our drive towards Minnesota from San Francisco almost 3 years ago, we detoured a tad so I could go to Colorado.... Aspen in particular, as Dan had spent so much time there in his early days. It helped me to heal from the loss of his physical presence in our world, but also allowed me to see how the essence of beauty increases with the passing of time. We leave that part of ourselves here when we depart the Earth. We leave the energy of our gifts, our time, our hopes and dreams.

I find myself thinking now about the song Dan might have penned to us all; knowing he was leaving us. And, in that same moment, I realize, he already has written it many times over. Whichever song you go to of his when you are tired, or trying to make sense out of the world, that is his song to you.

Thank you, Dan, for being my best friend when I needed one. For being my rock when I had nothing else to hold onto. And, for celebrating with me when I got it right on occasion! I will carry you with me always.

In the Shadows of myself.....

Are you aware that you possess a shadow side? It is what can balance you out as an individual, a human. We all need our shadow selves as a touchstone for reality. It is Yin/Yang in motion. Light, dark, warm, cold, wet, dry...............and so on.

I believe the problems present themselves here when we use our shadow selves to hide our gifts. We shove them aside into a dark corner and covet them like a dirty little secret we can not share. 'What if I scare people away? " "What if I sound like I don't know what I am talking about?" "What if I get it wrong?" "What if she knows more than I do?" or perhaps, the most commonly pondered question (at least in our subconscious)...........'What if I am right?"

What if we step into our gifts and allow them to shine through and be realized, appreciated and acknowledged. We will have accomplished a goal aligned with our purpose for being here NOW........one we can check off the list we created for our selves when we were in the void, just before we pulled the ripcord and entered our present life. We plunged into another existence, intending to "get it right this time."..... yelling GERONIMO at the moment of birth! Sprung from the loins of our past, our first utterings a cry, as if to say "I'm back here again??????

Have you ever considered, that in allowing your gifts to stagnate in the shadows, you fail to see and honor the gifts in others? That "F" word crops up and holds us back, that thing we call fear. I challenge you to see fear as opportunity, a chance to get a little bit of the big challenge we call life, RIGHT.

Live in your gifts, allow your purpose, and feel the calmness of being held up with honor and humbleness by your guides. This is true super stardom..............to be aligned with your path and your purpose. No awards, just true connection and flow.

Far out...........

Keepsakes on your sill....

Souvenirs...........

Gazing upon the souvenirs of my past I realized

I stopped living that event as soon as I set them on the shelf

That moment has passed, it is over

We are trained to let the past be the past

When, in reality, it is all happening now

Let the souvenirs remind us of who we are now

who we were then, and

How those two people are all

a part of the whole.........

And maybe......

Just maybe, life will occur even if you are not engaged. Just maybe the world will turn even if you are not feeling like joining it. Just maybe, by knowing this and living in this truth you can create a newness each day that allows you to flourish.....no matter how nasty people can be, no matter how cold it is, or how hot.......just because you are given the opportunity every day, hour, minute to live in the NOW.

Just maybe by moving forward in a tiny way, your feet, mind and intention will move forward also. Perhaps, you could engage just a little, just for a moment and test this theory. Just maybe, you will find your self engaged, are you engaged today?

Engage TODAY.

POWER!

What is power to you?
Are you living in your power?
Can you allow power to be unconditional Universal love?
Can you then allow yourself to accept this love?
How do you keep the channel open for the love to flow to you?

Want the answers to these questions to be answered?
Come and see me, we will explore this and discover the answers that already live inside of YOU!
www.allowharmony.com

Disciplne!

Today I begin my regular blogging, and will see what the becomes!

Last night @ All about the Journey, poet and author Wendy Brown Baez read for us and discussed her experiences with publishing and writing. One thing she challenged us all to do was BE MORE DISCIPLINED when it comes to writing. So, I shall do just that!

Ready, set, go................