Tea & Other Things

Drink your tea slowly and reverently,
as if the axis
on which the earth revolves —
slowly, evenly, without
rushing toward the future.
Live the actual moment.
Only this moment is life.
~ Thich Nhat Hanh ~

Other Things ~ I love

*  Geoffrey Gorman ~ works with wire, weathered wood, wax, cloth and found objects to create his fabulous  whimsical animals. You can find his work at his website here

*  Paige Bradley ~ beautiful bronze sculptured forms that seem as if they could come to life at any moment.  You can find her website here 

*  I love this charming house that Simon Dale built for his family in Wales. Imagine ~ building a house for less than $5000!

 

 

Some Other Things I Love

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The way the season ripens and swells as I watch the leaves quiver and fall with the rain.

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The steady sound of rain falling upon the garden below and the way it’s  growing louder and heavier, making the trees lose their leaves even more quickly.

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Watching the water fall from the sky.

 Here is one of my favorite poems by W.S. Merwin

“In the stillness after the rain ends
nothing is to be heard but the drops falling
one at a time from the tips of the leaves
into the night and I lie in the dark
listening to what I remember
while the night flies on with us into itself”

“Everyday Goddessing  is about sharing magical techniques and sacred wisdom with other beautiful Goddess women. I believe that within every woman there is a goddess, a wise woman, beautiful, creative, powerful, with a deep soul, and that everything we need and are looking for is already inside  each of us.” ~ Rose Arizmendi

Autumn Musings

For me, August is a bittersweet time at summer’s end, with it’s warm soft days that I wish would stay and never go.

This morning, the sun came out and lingered in the hazy late summer air as I watched the day seep into my house. The cooing of morning doves, the laughter of children and the sound of wooden wind chimes in the distance. So here I am, perched at the edge of my studio window watching trees, basking in the late morning sun, quietly dreaming.

Mother Earth is lavish with her gifts this time of the year;  the smell of loamy earth, the scent of jasmine in the air, tomato vines heavy with fruit and buzzing bees. On my morning walk, I also noticed a few yellow leaves on the birch trees,  indicating the change from summer to fall . . .      Sweet . . .  Autumn is here!

 

. . . as you sit on the hillside, or lie
prone under the trees, the great door, that does
not look like a door, opens. ~ Stephen Graham

In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either the key or the door to open, except yourself.
~ Jiddu Krishnamurti~

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.
Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.
The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy,
while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
~ John Muir~

“Everyday Goddessing  is about sharing magical techniques and sacred wisdom with other beautiful Goddess women. I believe that within every woman there is a goddess, a wise woman, beautiful, creative, powerful, with a deep soul, and that everything we need and are looking for is already inside  each of us.” – Rose Arizmendi

The Last Day Of May

As the last day of May gently heralds in the sweet promise of warm, summer days ahead, I’m listening to the rain falling on the birch leaves just outside my window and loving it!

The grey, wet day is pulling me inward, into deep reflection as I watch the flickering of the candle on the table. I love the soft glow and how it makes me feel deeply present in the moment.

Today would be the perfect day to visit the ocean and listen to waves break on the beach. To find treasures hidden in the sand and dance back and forth with the waves. To wander along the shore, especially on a windy, wet  afternoon.

 

Grateful for the simple pleasures  of sea and sky . . .

 

“Come into my lap and sit in the center of your soul. Drink the living waters of memory and give birth to yourself. What you unearth will stun you. You will paint the walls of this cave in thanksgiving.” ~ Meinrad Craighead, The litany of the Great River

 

“Everyday Goddessing  is about sharing magical techniques and sacred wisdom with other beautiful Goddess women. I believe that within every woman there is a goddess, a wise woman, beautiful, creative, powerful, with a deep soul, and that everything we need and are looking for is already inside  each of us.” – Rose Arizmendi

Summery Month Of May

Welcome, with your lovely greenwood choir, summery month of May for which I long!

Midsummer Eve by Edward Hughes

The green man smiles as lords and ladies dance around
the May pole entangled with flowers, leaves and ribbons.
The fairies ring their bells and the land awakens. ~ R. Arizmendi

 

The Green man ~ Created with Sculpey Polymer Clay by Rose Arizmendi~ (C) 1996

Do you have a secret garden?
A special place in nature ~  where life is spilling out at every corner.  The Wisteria Garden pictured below has always been one of my favorite places to visit, with its gurgling water fountain and gargoyles lurking under overgrown bushes.

There is an old wooden gate that serves as a doorway to this magical place and I’m often greeted by dragonflies, friendly squirrels and a slight movement in the trees just at the edges of my vision. I’ve spent many an hour here ~ tucked away beneath the fig tree dreaming, reflecting and listening to nature.

 

 

 

 

 

When was the last time you visited or got lost in an enchanted garden?

 

 

 

 

 

Finding joy in sun dappled trees and bird song . . .

And flowers blooming with wild abandon . . .

Magic moments . . .  A garden  full of sounds. The wind murmuring, the trees creaking and the leaves rustling.  ~ A sweet return to self. . .

“In lovely harmony the wood has put on its green mantle, and summer is on its throne, playing its string-music; the willow, whose harp hung silent when it was withered in winter, now gives forth its melody. Hush! ~ Listen! The world is alive.” ~ Thomas Telynog Evans

 

“Everyday Goddessing  is about sharing magical techniques and sacred wisdom with other beautiful Goddess women. I believe that within every woman there is a goddess, a wise woman, beautiful, creative, powerful, with a deep soul, and that everything we need and are looking for is already inside  each of us.” – Rose Arizmendi

 

Make Sacred Space

When we give ourselves the gift of sacred space we are feeding our heart, body, mind and spirit. A special place tucked away from the hustle and bustle of everyday living, where one can sit quietly and commune with the divine.

Sanctuary for meditation & prayer ~ An offering of peace . . .

Our patio is home to a couple of statues that are especially meaningful for us. They help remind us to make time for meditation, prayer and reflection.

“Prayer clears the mist
and brings back peace
to the soul.”   ~ Rumi

Just by spending a couple of minutes or an hour in sacred space, we refresh ourselves and restore a sense of balance and peace in our lives.

A special place to relax, be still and listen.

Something opens our wings.
Something makes boredom and hurt disappear.
Someone fills the cup in front of us:
We taste only sacredness.”
~ Rumi

Kuan Yin ~  She is associated with compassion and healing. For me, she is a symbol of the spiritual principles of love, forgiveness, kindness and gratitude.

Lovely golden green glass suspended between sky and earth. I found this garden ornament packed away in a box and decided to hang it up to celebrate the changing of the seasons. It reflects the color of nature’s first golden green of spring, the color of  joy, wonder and impermanence.

While cleaning our zen garden on the patio table, I added a beautiful figurine that we found at one of the local thrift stores for just 25 cents. Love the detail and flow of his clothing. ~ So very Zen!

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Hand blown glass balls for your garden. ~ They are said to bring harmonizing energy into your home & garden and deflect negative chi. The blue ball represents the Feng Shui Element Water in places where it’s not easy to have flowing water. This works for me since I don’t have room on the patio for a water fountain.

Sea shells that hold memories from special places. ~ Just another way to add the element of water to your sacred space.

When creating sacred space outdoors you can add potted plants, stones, herbs, wind chimes, color and anything else that you love. Sacred space is all about surrounding yourself with things you love and what makes you feel centered, peaceful and balanced.

“Your sacred space is where you can find yourself over and over again.” ~ Joseph Campbell

“Everyday Goddessing  is about sharing magical techniques and sacred wisdom with other beautiful Goddess women. I believe that within every woman there is a goddess, a wise woman, beautiful, creative, powerful, with a deep soul, and that everything we need and are looking for is already inside  each of us.” – Rose Arizmendi