What I Want In My Relationships…each and every one of them.

“During a transpersonal or transcendent experience, the boundary in the relationship between the self and the other blur; you no longer know where you end and someone else begins.”

Taken from the Living The Field  course, the masterclass for miraculous living
that brings together science and spirituality. For more information, click here.  Living The Field

Every possible area of spirituality, physics, phenomena, anthropology, (and much, much more) is researched in great depth.  The result is a complete tool-kit for holism, enlightenment and spiritual advancement.
It’s based on the discoveries from Lynne McTaggart’s best-selling book ‘The Field’, and the discovery that all of life is connected by the ZPF.

Conscious Joy: The Dating Game

So, yesterday I am im’ing with this guy that made contact with me on Plenty of Fish dot com  (really seriously totally FREE dating website) and he asks me:

“So, are you looking for a boyfriend?”

and I catch myself semi-furiously backpeddling for some as of yet unknown reason…

“Ummmmm…actually, I don’t know. Maybe, but probably not. Maybe I am just looking for friends.”

He returns sharply (or that is how I perceive his text to read)

“Well then, why would you put a profile on POF?”

Hmmmmm….good question.

I answer something like, “You know, I’ve never actually tried the friends first approach, so maybe that is the one that actually works.”

And then we are off chatting about something else for a while.

But I find myself become more and more uncomfortable.

And ask myself “why?”

And, resorting back to old, patterned behavior, tell myself to shut up.

Until today. When during my meditation I realize that even from the little bit I’ve been able to gather from just our short chat and phone call…although this guy is probably a really, really nice guy and absolutely perfect for someone, he’s more than likely not the guy for me.

And the reason is: although he says he would respect my interests….he’s just not into the same things.

And

That is quite allright. He doesn’t have to be.

And

I also know that

I can’t go through that again. Having a relationship in which my partner and I are not on the same page. Where we don’t connect up on every level from root to crown. It’s not that we have to be joined at the hip. Yuck. I wouldn’t ever want that. But to resonate with each other in every way possible. Sexually, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. To be able to actually communicate. To enjoy communicating! To enjoy sharing passionate pursuits as well as cheering on each other’s individual causes. To support each other…be proud of each other…challenge and respect each other.

All of that.

No less.

So, although I am really narrowing the field, good for me.

For this time I am not settling for anything less that what I want.

What I need.

What I deserve.

And neither should he.

That would not serve either of us very well….now, would it?

 

Conscious Joy: Budding Souls

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”  ~ Anais Nin

 

Jeff Brown,  author of “Soulshaping: Adventures in Self-Creation,” (isn’t that a fantastic title!)  and the man with the hypgnotic* eyes, shared this Nin quote on his Facebook  page today and it hit me as such a profound truth that I asked permission to “snag” it from him and post it on my own Facebook page .  He wrote back “its all yours Joy..one of my favorite quotes from Soulshaping.. The Ninster knew best..” and then I decided to share it here, too.  As I told Jeff, it’s just too good not to share in an even wider way. 

It also seems to me that lately, so many more of my moment to moment consciousness expresses this same truth.  It is such an infinite, scary, glorious process of unfolding into …. what ?!? 

We don’t know what. 

And that is the beautiful mystery, isn’t it?  The one that leads us on. 

Deeper and deeper.

Higher and higher.

Hypgnotic Eyes

That’s Jeff up there ^

*Hypgnotic:  A state of consciousness in which what is known as God can be personally experienced.

 

Check out Jeff’s website .  He’s got some really cool free stuff over there such as podcasts, book excerpts, his blog and also a bursary program  which offers soul help to those those that are in need but don’t have the funds.  That in itself is an indication that this guy is the real thing. 

And, for anyone that is interested…”Soulshaping: Adventures in Self-Creation” is on my Christmas wish list!

Quotes worth Quoting

“We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.” ~ – Ray Bradbury

I must create a system
Else be enslaved by another man’s
I will not reason and compare,
My business is to create!
- William Blake

Our duty, as men and women, is to proceed as if limits to our ability did not exist. We are collaborators in creation. - Teilhard De Chardin

Create the Love of Your Dreams!

Greetings, Conscious Ones!

 

 

If you’re anything like me, you’re busy. Busy
with home, work and family. I respect your time
that’s why I’m going to get right to the point. 

My friend, Nanette Geiger, (and, she really is my friend…see “Joy Walks” ) has written a book called, *Create the Love of Your Dreams*,

and I feel compelled to tell you about it. 

 

This book is about how Nanette used the Law of Attraction to
create a personal *Relationship* *Breakthrough*.
Nanette shows you, *Step-by-Step*, how you can
Create the relationship of Your Dreams, too.

 

Nanette was tired of running her life as a solo
act and deeply desired a love that she could
share her life with unreservedly. Her true desire
was to have a powerful partner to team up with. 

Especially with the uncertain economic conditions,
having someone who backs you up completely is
what most of us want. 

 

If you’re among my single friends who dearly
*want a fulfilling love relationship*, then what
I’m about to share with you is for you! If not, I
invite you to pass this  along to one of your
single friends, who will thank you dearly for
passing it along.  In fact, your single friends
will thank you when you pass this email offering
along to them. 

My friend, Nanette did what most single men and
women would love to do — she *created the love*
of *her dreams*. Now, she’s teaching others how
to do it for themselves. She created a huge
breakthrough for herself around relationships by
*blasting through her barriers*.

 

She’ll teach you how you can too. Learn more by going here  

http://createtheloveofyourdreams.com/?afid=3530

 

Nanette met and was *engaged* to the man of her
dreams 6 *weeks later*! They’ve now been
blissfully married for 3 years. Well, as you can
imagine, her friends and family were thrilled for her. 

 

Nanette’s Friends kept asking her “what did you
do?” “How’d you do it?” 

She told them.

Then they said, “You need to write a book!”

So Nanette wrote *Create the Love of Your
Dreams*,  *The Essential How To Relationship Book*
*Using the Law of Attraction*. 

 

I’m supporting Nanette in getting her inspiration
out there so that you, too, can: 

 *Be fulfilled in your relationships

 *Breakthrough any barriers in love and intimacy

 *Learn how to leverage the power of the Universe 
to have it all and *Create the Love of Your Dreams*. 

 

Grab your copy now and claim thousands of dollars
in great bonus gifts by going here: 

http://createtheloveofyourdreams.com/?afid=3530

Say goodbye to facing another holiday season
*alone and lonely*. You can check that concern
right off your list. 

 

Nanette shows you how to identify your blocks,
*step-by-step*. At the end of each chapter you’ll
find clarifying exercises that have you lining up
your blocks and picking them off. 

 

“You don’t even know what’s blocking you if
you haven’t asked yourself some of these
clarifying questions,” Nanette told me. 

 

Well, whatever concern you have about
relationships, Nanette will help you make it
disappear. Nanette shows you how to reframe that
or let it go completely in her book “Create the
Love of Your Dreams.” 

 

Today we’re doing a special book launch at

http://createtheloveofyourdreams.com/?afid=3530

Get your copy of “Create the Love of Your
Dreams” and get over $2000 in goodies by way of
F*ree bonuses delivered to your email inbox in
minutes.

 

Go here to learn more 

http://createtheloveofyourdreams.com/?afid=3530

 

I’m sure you have some good friends who could
really benefit by what Nanette shares in her book
“Create the Love of Your Dream.” Why not

*pass it along to a few good friends*.

Believe me, they’ll thank you for it.

Thanks for your time and have a superb New Year. 

 

In Love!

Joy

 

P.S. Don’t pass up the opportunity to get your
high quality life transforming F*ree bonus gifts
when you get your copy today. 

 

P.P.S. Remember the Universe is a
*gigantic intention fulfillment machine*
waiting for you to get the static off your line
and deliver your heart’s desire to you now. 

http://createtheloveofyourdreams.com/?afid=3530

Closet Smoking …..

Last summer I quit smoking. At least, I quit for a while. Then I slipped up and had one. And that one turned into two. And then three. At first, I told myself that I could control the amount that I would allow myself to smoke. I made up rules. I would only allow myself to smoke when I was around other smokers. I would not buy my own cigarettes. As the weeks progressed, the rules evolved into new rules. I would only smoke a certain number of the cigarettes I purchased in certain places at certain times.

I told myself I was still in control, and that was what was important. But, as the weeks turned into months, I was smoking more frequently, craving each cigarette more and more. Not having told my family I had begun smoking again, I started finding excuses to leave the house, sneaking out to smoke in secrecy. I found myself covering up the smell of cigarette smoke, chewing gum…spraying fabric and air freshener… slightly ashamed of my duplicity each time I did it.

I found myself slipping out of control.

Control…self-control…had been the reason I had wanted to quit smoking, in the first place. Over the previous three years, I had been doing my best to gain control over myself and my life, and had come far in so many areas. Using meditation, energy work and study, as well as other methods to heal, I was medication free, owned my own business, had founded and found joy in organizing a local consciousness group that had grown to close to 500 members.

My mind and heart were healing and as I healed, so did my relationships…so did my life. I had brought myself from being on complete and supposedly permanent disability for bipolar disorder, zombied out on multiple prescription medications, a virtual and somewhat paranoid and emotionally crippled recluse dependent on external circumstances for my happiness to living a life so full of inner peace and joy, wonderful opportunities and experiences, that I never in my wildest imagination could have envisioned.

I had done all of this…come so far…through self-control. Voluntary control of my thoughts, emotions and actions.

I had finally come to realize that we all create our own experience, our own realities. I had come to know that it is my choice as to how I feel, what I do and how life treats me. I now understood that everything boils down to choice…that it is in my power to choose what I experience in my life.

But I still had the smoking thorn in my side. I had tried unsuccessfully to quit and it was really beginning to bother me that this last seemingly insignificant (when compared to everything else I had conquered) bump in the road was appearing to me to be an impassable boulder.

My self-talk ping-ponged back and forth between “it doesn’t matter if I smoke a bit…I’m still doing well in every other area of my life,” to “how can you let this control you…you who are now so knowledgeable about the power of choice? You who are now a devoted student and teacher of spirituality and consciousness? You who are now an energy healing facilitator? You, who preach the amazing healing powers of Love?”

Indeed. How could I?

So, when synchronistically I learned about an upcoming free smoking cessation teleseminar, I followed my intuition and signed up to listen in. I still wasn’t really committed to the idea of totally quitting, (and honestly…I’m still ambivalent on that…I still have this vision of me being in control enough to “just have one”…preferably with a cup of strong, sweet coffee…I mean…I REALLY enjoy those times!) but at least my heart and mind were open to whatever I could gain from the experience.

During the call Lela Bryan, of Nicotine Solutions, ( http://www.nicotinesolutions.com) explained the various aspects of
the cessation program. She assured me that it didn’t matter how much or how little I smoked, nor even if I really had a deep desire to stop, that her program would help me gain the control I so wanted. Her no-nonsense and kindly manner re-assured me that her intentions were pure and that she had my highest good in mind and heart. When I told her that I would like a day or so to think over my decision, she accepted this with no pressure to sign up. We agreed upon a date and time to re-connect and when that time came, I informed her that I wished to try out her program.

As of today, it will be two weeks since our smoking cessation group program started. So far, the process has been totally easy. Probably the greatest thing about this program is that for the first few weeks of the program, you smoke! In fact, you are supposed to really focus on your smoking! We are required to pay close attention to how each individual cigarette tastes and how much enjoyment you get out of smoking it. Sounds slightly counter-productive…doesn’t it?!?

But, I think Lela has some great tricks up her sleeve. Over the past couple of weeks, as I have participated in our weekly group sessions and done my cessation assignments, I have begun to trust her process more and more. This is one smart and caring woman. It doesn’t hurt that she is a former smoker, herself. I am learning that she has a deep understanding of the challenges that stopping smoking can bring, and that her program gives each of us the tools necessary to overcome those challenges.

I am looking forward stopping smoking…to gaining control over this part of my life. I’m excited about fully feeling the accomplishment gained from self-discipline. I’m sure that with Lela’s help, her knowledge, tools and loving support, I’ll be able to make this mile-stone in my personal growth.

And, I’m looking forward to reporting my progress! Stay tuned for future reports!

Fractal Time ~ Gregg Braden’s new book!

I love Gregg Braden’s books.  All of them!  I’m so excited about his new one, “Fractal Time The Secret of 2012 and a New World Age.” 

Have you ordered yours, yet?  If not, click here!

<a href=” ” ><IMG border=0 src=”http://affiliate.hayhouse.com/IndivProd/978-1-4019-2064-7.jpg” ></a><IMG border=0 width=1 height=1 src=” ” >

The Essence of Joy

My friend Vanessa Vendola writes spiritual poetry that expresses the essence of the person that she is writing about. Here is how she sees me

Joy

Her power of Love, demonstrates high availability

Patience and clarity, for pure energy

Developing into your spirit

Allowing all flavors of defense

Descending and recessing, the action of the ego

Lightly, lasting empowerment

From her authentic self

To You!

By Vanessa Vendola-December 02,2008

For your very own essence poem, contact Vanessa!

www.vivavanessence.com

Free Healing with the Masters Teleseminar Series

**Note:  I am in no way affiliated with or benefit financially from this teleseminar series….just sharing a good thing!**

Dates: March 10 – May 27, Tuesday and Thursday evenings

Times: 4:00 PM Pacific, 5:00 PM Mountain, 6:00 PM Central, 7:00 PM Eastern

 

Wouldn’t it be amazing to understand the things these leaders practiced that lead to their success, and hear first hand the stories of how they overcame personal challenges and still found their dreams? Then you could apply the same principles these teachers will reveal to your own life to achieve more than you could ever dream?

You will learn how to…

• identify powerful self-healing techniques that you can use each and every day
• find and discover your own internal wealth for foundational financial healing
• findthe source of your own troublesome internal blocks…and fully release them
• master super effective techniques for clearing past trauma
• implement new healing practices that will allow you to visualize and create your dreams
• use the Law of Attraction to its absolute maximum
• learnhow to help not only yourself, but your family, your friends and your community as well

…all from the mouths of those who are leading the charge and truly experiencing a life well lived.

Judith Orloff, is an assistant clinical professor of Psychiatry at
UCLA and author of the new international bestseller Emotional
Freedom, she is Transforming the face of psychiatry

Dr. Bruce Lipton, internationally recognized authority in indentifying
and coalescing science and spirit and New York Times best selling
author of The Biology of Belief

Gary Zukav, challenges us to see the depth of our potential in the
world, and act on that awareness. He is the author of four consecutive
New York Times Bestsellers The Dancing Wu Li Masters, The Seat of
the Soul, Soul Stories, The Heart of the Soul: Emotional Awareness,
The Mind of the Soul: Responsible Choice

Gregg Braden, a New York Times best selling author of The
Divine Matrix and Spontaneous Healing of Belief, purveyor of the
heart and renowned pioneer in bridging science and spirituality.

Jack Canfield, an award-winning author of The Success Principles,
creator of The Chicken Soup For The Soul, series and featured
teacher in The Secret offering the fundamental success principles
for life

James Ray, a spiritual phenomenon, featured teacher on The
Secret and creator of the popular Harmonic Wealth System

Gary Renard, delivering radical, cutting-edge metaphysical
information, Gay is a best selling author of The Disappearance of
The Universe, Your Immortal Reality and expert on The Course in
Miracles

Guy Finley, best-selling author of  “The Secret of Letting Go”,   “The Essential Laws of Fearless Living”, and more than 36 other books and audios
that have sold over a million copies in 16 languages worldwide.
His ideas cut straight to the heart of our most pressing personal
and social issues

Dr. Eric Pearl renowned healer and founder of The Reconnection
system of healing whose patients’ miraculous healings have been
documented in six books to date including Eric’s own international
bestseller.

Sonia Choquette, best selling author of many books, who is also
a spiritual teacher and an intuitive guide helping to energetically
activate the highest vibration and free the authentic spirit in
everyone she meets.

Stephen Lewis, founder of EMC2 and co-author of the novel
Sanctuary: The Path to Consciousness, who has been exploring
energetic balancing for more than twenty-five years.

Plus over a dozen more such names that really blew me away…

In addition, the theme of the program is compelling; it isn’t just
another interview series.

This one offers some real practical techniques and even
spontaneous meditations and healing exercises. Jennifer is
probing what each of these speakers has been doing in their
own lives that has opened the door to their success. She’s
getting every one of them to reveal the remarkable discoveries
that have contributed to their leading edge thinking.

Her program called “The Daily Work”, encompasses discovering
the very practices these spiritual leaders apply to their lives daily,
weekly, and monthly, to evolve, grow and find their own personal
freedom and joy.

AND, now you can hear and apply these same techniques
and exercises to your own life…

http://www.healingwiththemasters.com/

Healing with the Masters Presents The Daily Work Tele-Seminar Series

Jennifer’s 12-week intensive gives you exclusive inside-their-mind
access to 24 of the world’s leading experts in new thought and
wellness. These well known speakers are revealing their most
personal, private and above all most effective techniques that
will help you achieve whatever you want in life (and release
whatever you don’t want!).

Your host for this show is Jennifer McLean. She’s an acclaimed
healer, author and speaker who is applying her own process to
this program, as evidenced by the list of “who’s who” in New
Thought participating. Obviously, she knows how to make things
happen and is very passionate about helping others achieve
health and success.

Believe it or not, this is actually a totally F*R*E*E event! Yes,
Jennifer is graciously providing all of these amazing speakers,
available just for you, at no cost.

To take advantage of this invitation to tap into the minds of
These masters, simply:

Step #1) Go register for your no-cost teleseminar seat here:

http://www.healingwiththemasters.com/

Step #2) Keep an eye out for Jennifer’s email with the details
for listening in on the calls.

Step #3) Make sure you go to the download site mentioned in
your confirmation email after you register. Jennifer has a couple
of amazing healing-focused bonus gifts for you (meditations and
sound healing audios) that you can use immediately just for
enrolling in this completely fr*ee series.

So take action right now and join me, okay?

A Meditation on Presence

Presence. Pre-sense. Before sense. Beyond touch, smell, sight, hearing and taste. Let us suppose that perhaps the sixth sense is actually the first. The most important. The knowing. The Presence.

Presence 2 By Rebecca Carroll

Presence in the company of those that know you…know the real you…and love and accept you unconditionally anyways, is one of the most healing energetic experiences of all. To be with one, to be one, in love, is pure joy. When one can be oneself without fear of judgement, the heart opens up and is able to receive the love that is always there….always present. For when one relaxes out of fear, into love, one sees that love is really all there is. It is only our false perceptions that keep this truth veiled.

Total acceptance. Total support. Total love. Total presence. The present of presence is a gift of grace. It is only with the sixth sense that we can truly appreciate the enormity of this power. If we are lucky….or loving….enough, we are graced with the gift of presence in our human relationships. If we are able to look with loving eyes upon our family, friends and acquaintances, we eventually see, not with our eyes, but our hearts, that we are all the same. And we will see that we are all doing the best we know how to do, and that all anyone ever wants is to be happy. Deep down we will see that we are all not similar or even just alike, but that we are all, indeed, one. We are all unique expressions of the same intelligent, loving energy that we have labled “God.” We are all that awesome, infinite Presence….the All That Is. And that all is well. There is, after all is said and done, a greater plan, and it is only our limited perception that keeps that plan a mystery. And even that is good. If we were to know All That Is, we would no longer have purpose….we would just be.

Without judgement…with total acceptance, comes surrender and forgiveness. When we begin to put together the pieces of the puzzle of All That Is, and accept and surrender to the perfection of It All, we are able to forgive all the woundings our previously faulty perceptions have impressed upon our psyches. We are able to see past the chaos and pain, to the glory of the perfection of it all. When we clear our energy fields and shine light upon the shadow of our hearts and minds, we are able to see that it is only ourselves that have kept us in the darkness. That the light of wisdom, the light of love, has always been present. It is ourselves that have refused to remove the blindfold of ignorance.

Our human relationships may be blessed with presence, if we ourselves are at one with Presence. At one ment. Atonement. The true meaning of atonement is at one with. Being at One with Presence. With all that is. Resting in the arms of true, unconditional love, acceptance and support. Bathing ones heart and mind with the sum of All That Is. Knowing all is well and good. Letting go of all fear and worry. Letting go of all judgement and separation. Becoming One with All That Is. Allowing the energy to grow and expand. Filling every space and every nonspace with Presence. Becoming Presence.

This becoming of Presence, this grace, is essential to evolution and growth. Becoming One with Love is our ultimate purpose. It is part of our mostly mysterious plan. When we experience Presence, without the judgement and condemnation that the lesser five senses have created in us….when we practice pre-sense…we open ourselves to the wisdom and love of the infinite ages.

Being the gift of presence to those that you love….to That Which Is….begins within oneself. As Ghandi said, “Be the change that you want to see in the world.” Through meditation, through conscious contact with nature, through appreciation of beauty, through music…through whatever method that brings you into unity with All That Is, one can begin to understand the power of Presence. The power of Love, All That Is. “Let peace begin with me,” the song goes. Let peace begin with you. Let love begin with you. Be the peace and love that you want to experience in the world. Practice going within, connecting with the perfection that you are. That going within is like a muscle…begging to be developed and used for the highest good of all. Let the change be you. Be the change. Go beyond your physical senses into pre-sense. Practice the acceptance of and connecting to your perfection, of the perfection of others…of the perfection of All That Is. The perfection of Love.

The Perfection of Love

You are perfect. All is perfect and All is well. There is nothing to be changed or fixed….only your perception of anything but the perfection of Love.

***Dedicated to my family that knows, accepts and supports me in unconditional Love. Thank you with all my heart.***

Spiritual Freebie: Wallace Wattles “The Science of Being Great” Free Audio

You’ll thank me for telling you about this one. Go to: http://www.archive.org/details/WallaceD.Wattles-TheScienceOfBeingGreat and download the whole book. Although Wattles wrote over 100 years ago, his advice is absolutely timeless. He writes with a depth of wisdom that few even aspire to gain.

I’ve listened to the whole book twice and will listen again…and again. His words are worth listening to over and over….helping to program what I intuitively know as TRUTHS into this ever eager mind!

Leave a comment and let me know what you think of this audio!

Spiritual Freebie: “I’m Amazed”

Free Consciousness CD: “I’m Amazed” from “The Sirius Connection”

For the past several weeks, I have been participating in an intensive course in consciousness expansion. It’s a series of audio downloads that are delivered by email each week from Keith Haswell at The Sirius Connection. Now, I’m not an affiliate of Mr. Haswell, and don’t even know him, so you can trust me when I say this is some good stuff. Haswell addresses many areas of New Thought with a depth of understanding that is not commonplace. I’ve spent literally dozens of hours listening and re-listening to the audios…picking up new information and insights each time and I highly recommend that you have a listen for yourself. Keith offers a free 80 minute introductory cd called “I’m Amazed” which will give you a feeling for the material and will enable you to decide whether this program resonates with you. Continue reading to see how to get the free cd.

Keith Haswell of The Sirius Connection is a professional astrologer with 20,000 clients worldwide. He is also a qualified hypnotherapist. He has spent the last 34 years reading 100’s of books, attending dozens of lectures and listening to 1000’s of CD’s and tapes. All of these have been on the popular subject of NEW – AGE personal development and consciousness expansion. Subjects like Astrology, Meditation, Re-incarnation and Quantum physics. He shares that 34 years of study, research and investigation, coupled with the practice of scientific meditation, has given him access to HIGHER TRUTHS.

Keith writes:

“I’m ABSOLUTELY AMAZED at what I’ve discovered. There are techniques that you can learn, that when utilized with diligence, will allow you to create all manner of success in all areas of your life, including relationships, career, business, money etc. You won’t learn these techniques from books. I’ve recorded an 80 minute CD called “I’m Amazed” that’s designed to give a preview of some of my discoveries. Instructions on how you can download a copy of this CD, FREE OF CHARGE, are as follows. (order here: “free gift” page)

1. To appreciate the massive changes brought about in the lives of others, ensure that you read all the testimonials in the “Home Page“. Then add my website to your favorites list for easy return.

2. Order your free 80 minute CD “I’m Amazed” in MP3 format that you can download with a link or password sent to you within 1 minute via auto-respond email. To order, please send an email containing your name to: download@thesiriusconnection.com with the subject “Request for 80 min CD”.  

Keith is also, for a limited time, offering the whole first Intensive in his series, for FREE! After you download and listen to the free “I’m Amazed” cd, if you find that this information resonates with you, you can request the first Intensive from Keith for free. But, act fast! This offer may end at any time!

Sirius

Getting Away

Every once in a while I have an urge to get away.  It doesn’t have to be far away, or even for a very long time.  And it is so absolutely lovely when the timing works out that the urge strikes and the opportunity presents itself both around the same time as it did recently when I spent a couple of days up in Durham at Villa Rosa with my friend Rosemary Martin.

What we did:

We ate. 

We drank.

We listened to music.

We laughed and laughed and laughed!

And we talked.  We talked and talked and talked!  We talked about all kinds of things.  Everything under the sun.  Life, spirit, love.  And art.  Which was an easy subject to discusss since Rosey’s home is filled with art, much of which is her own. (At last count, she had 57 pieces!) 

I can’t tell you how inspiring it is to spend time in a home which is built around art, the way Rosey knows how to do (she should…it’s her business!)  Everywhere you look is yet another tasteful and intriguing work which calls for closer inspection.  Color, texture, subject….all delight the eye and heart! 

My favorites were Rosey’s Barbara Wood pieces, including “Lady of the Night”

Lady of The Night by Barbara Wood

and Rosey’s own “Laudry Series”, a series of photographs which Rosey took during her many trips to Europe.  These pictures hang in a happy and cheerful grouping in her front hallway, welcoming each visitor to her home with a bit of Rosey’s own bright and inviting energy. 

Laudry Series

Rosey even gave me a Barbara Wood print of “The Violinist” to take home! 

The Violinist

Isn’t it lovely?!?

I am so grateful and appreciative of the little pleasures that life offers me, including friends like Rosey.  She is a rare gem and I am honored to have her in my life.

Red Frogs and Super Heroes: Two Conversations

 Red Frogs and Super Heroes: Two Conversations 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Super Heroes

 Nicholas: “Joy, I have to ask you something and I need for you to tell me the truth. I really want to know the truth.”

Joy: “OK, Nicholas, I’ll tell you the truth. What is your question?”

Nicholas: “Joy, do super heroes really exist?”

Joy: “Of course they exist, Nicholas. And what is so wonderful is that there are so many more super heroes than we even know!”

Nicholas: “I know. You know how I know? Because I’m a super hero.”

Joy: “I know! And you know what is cool? I’m a super hero, too!”

Nicholas: “But, Joy, don’t tell anyone that I’m a super hero.”

Joy: “OK, I won’t give away your secret identity.”

Nicholas: “Joy, if you are a super hero, what are your secret super powers?”

Joy: “Ummm, Nicholas, I guess they are things like Love and Peace.”

Nicholas: “But, Joy, how can Love and Peace defeat the criminals?”

Joy: “Nicholas, because Love and Peace are the most powerful energies in the world!”

Nicholas: “Oh. OK, Joy.”

Joy: “OK, Nicholas. See you tomorrow.”

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Red Frogs

 I was on the phone with someone this past week and I was actually enjoying myself for a change. I don’t normally “do” phone very well. Never have…not even in my teen years. I just never have enjoyed spending all that much time on the phone. In fact, I am probably one of the few people in my demographic (or just about any demographic, for that matter) that does not own a cell phone. I had one, never used it, so finally figured out it was silly to keep paying $40.00 a month for something I never used and almost never even remembered to keep charged. 

ANYWAYS, here I was chatting on the phone, having an interesting conversation with a gentleman acquaintance and somehow the talk turned to dating. He mentioned that he had been presented opportunities to be in relationship with various women since his divorce, but he wasn’t interested in the drama that so many seemed to be into. He said that it reminded him of a story his teacher had taught: 

An 80 year old monk is walking along a path and comes across a red frog by the side of the path. The red frog speaks up, stopping the monk in his steps. The frog says to the monk, “Kind sir, what you see before your eyes is a red frog that speaks, but I am really a 21 year old voluptuous virgin that will be eternally grateful to you if you will just kiss me and break the spell that has been put upon me.”  

The monk considered the frog’s plea. He stooped down and scooped the frog up, placing it in his pocket and continued along his way down the path. 

After a little ways, the frog poked it’s head out from the monk’s pocket and said, “Excuse me venerable sir, but perhaps you did not hear me correctly. I am really a 21 year old virgin who will do anything for you if you will just kiss me and break the spell that binds me in this frog body.” 

The monk looked down at the frog, gently pushed it back down deep into his pocket and continued along his way.

 Another little way down the path the frog once again pushed it’s head out of the monk’s pocket and began to speak… 

“Kind, venerable sir, I’m not sure you heard me, but I am a …..” 

Interrupting the frog and pushing it back down into his pocket, the monk said, “Thank you, I heard you, I heard you. But I am an 80 year old monk and I think that I would really rather just have a talking, red frog.”  

The End 

I am left wondering if I am perhaps someone’s talking, red frog?  

Is there someone out there that will someday appreciate me for my unique and perhaps a bit (or perhaps a lot?) quirky self. Someone that might possibly have a bit of that red talking frog energy himself?

I smile, close my eyes, and envision painting my talking red frog self-portrait.  Red.  Talking.  Frog.