Women Rise Up

ecstatic surrender through art



lake eden in all her glory

Women gather. Magic Happens When We Do. When we share our deepest pain with one another. When we celebrate our dreams and goals. When we remember that we do not have to be the marketers of our own work, OUR SISTERS CAN DO THIS FOR US.

Women know. This goddess of empowerment, Alisa Starkweather, said something that I have never known before. There are more neurons firing in our bellies than in our brains. So when we feel sick to our stomachs it is not a lie. Our bodies do not lie to us. They tell us when we are in danger, when we are in situations that are not the best for us. When we remember to trust our gut we are honoring our bellies.

Women rise up. Alisa is a part of a Red Tent Movement and she is doing a conference call in October!!! Can you imagine? A place to gather together, to bleed together, to share our stories, our food, and our hearts?!

There is so much more to share from this weekend. 1000 women from all walks of life coming together to join in their connection to the plants, to our roots, and to our mother earth, leaves me filled up in every which way.

we are solitary

we are solitary. we may delude ourselves and act as though it were not so. but how much better it is to realize that we are so, yes, even to begin by assuming it. naturally, we will turn giddy.
rainer maria rilke, letters to a young poet



sleeping bear


sleeping lelu


such a tender time. so much to write about.
this fall is bringing so many lessons already.
with our growth must come release.
a letting go of something that no longer serves us at this time.
time to let what did not get accomplished this year fade into our memory, another cycle will be on it's way soon.

for us, this means a move. not a move in our town. our beloved Asheville. we met and fell in love here.
were married here. lived the last 3 years in a pretty blissful state of being.

we are headed to William's home. Arkansas. it's strange to think of myself farther from my Mom. farther from my girlfriends. it will be no longer a drive away, we'll have to fly. we'll have to be patient and plan wonderful visits when we can.

there have been signs. and we've been listening. we've been stating our intentions and now we've been called to live them.
it feels like we are at the top of a roller coaster.

it's a choice. like any other. but this time we are not choosing in our comfort zone. we are not pushing to get exactly what we think is best for us. we are in the flow and the universe is holding us up. my Mom's blessing for me solidified this change.

it's the five year plan. to make a baby. to have that baby be blessed to be brought up on land that is unspoiled and cared for. for a community of family members that is so large and full of love. to open our practice there. to expand what is currently just William's massage to include my botanical goodness. to stretch and fill up all the uncomfortable and unknown spaces. to grow into something that we've dreamed of.

the kicker is..i'm not finished with my herbal program here at ASHH. November 11th I graduate. 7 weeks. we will be driving our belongings to Arkansas this upcoming week, only I won't be staying. not just yet...

my intentions here in Asheville are to finish my schooling. i will be staying in a room at the school (a converted old house), studying for my final and finishing up a lovely pressed flower book project. i will be fully immersed in herbs. i will be alone. i will be scared. i write my fears here to address them. and over the period of the next 7 weeks i will take care to record the goings of myself here in Asheville. finishing up a chapter in my life while my husband and forever furry friend (lelu, our dog) are starting the new chapter. i will write. relax. work hard. dream. journal. be quiet. i will just be. i will be kind to myself. kind to my partner. and kind to all of you. change is scary.

(just sharing those fears i can feel a deeper breath coming)

Wild Women Rule

Today I give thanks. Thanks that I am able to get up and do my morning pages. Putting my pen to the paper feels like home.

Today I ponder being wild. Is it too wild to think that we can trust in the universe to carry us? Is it too wild to be without a home for a few months while we travel and visit and re-situate ourselves? When we let ourselves feel how much we crave a certain experience....and then we don't take the opportunity, aren't we then not being wild enough?

Life is change. Change is Wild. And I'm going to trust in the organic connection between what I want on the inside and what is wanted from me on a higher level. That when I leap into what I want for myself and those I love, that ultimately I am doing good for our planet.

Breaking through...to a whole new world

restored.recharged.and oh so thankful.

a sunday drive

picking berries on the blueridge parkway

sacred native land

showers

followed by rainbow delights

homemade whipped cream to top the berries with

cuddling and movies

makes for a perfect sunday :)

Free from space and time

the view from our porch

meditating at transformus

Transformus is our regional burn here outside of Asheville, NC. It was a life-changing experience, full of glorious displays of self-expression. Without vendors or corporate sponsors, people's heart chakras were fully open, ready to give and receive. Sharing, communing, enjoying the beauty of Deerfields we danced the days away and really soaked up some amazing energy.

Upon our return we got word from William's Dad that his grandfather has fallen ill. Cancer it seems will take his life in a few months. We were so blessed to have his 85 year old grandfather and his girlfriend make the journey from Arkansas to Asheville (a road trip!!) to visit with us just last month. We realized then as never before what kindred spirits we are. He's a soul man. A man who knows the value of love and I feel so very honored to have him in my life. We are going to be going to William's home to soak up some more love soon, but until then I wanted to leave you with the email his grandfather sent. I think it is truly beautiful the way he has honored his life and is planning his departure much in that same way.

Please spread the word, Joe Hall, the old doctor, is going on a long trip.

I have been planning this trip for a long time--soon to be 85 years. I still don't know my date of departure; however, I think it playfully remains one of the surprises of the venture. I expect the trip to happen a few weeks to a few months from now.

You, my e-mail buddies, have been a major fun-filled source of Wisdom, Beauty, Peace and Joy for many years. Please continue to write me… I love it and I need it.

I am planning and building a beautiful death which will get rid of the worn out old body. Pain, dysfunction, fatigue and disease will no longer be present. Death is the final healing of all disease.

No longer will I be confined by time or space. Instant travel will be available 24/7. Although I cannot get my mind around this, I am told I will be able to be in all places at all times sharing perfect love with every one and every thing.

I have recently been told by several very competent and concerned doctors that I have cancer of the colon with wide spread metastases which can not be cured.

Please pray that I may feel and share the spirit of perfect love as God wishes me to.

Until we meet again Peace and Joy Joe B Hall the old doctor