Mirror Mirror

Art as Healing; Expression as Medicine 

Creating Wellness in Community

What are your own current modes of self-expression?

Currently, I write, take photos and dance with fire and allow myself to be, open to, all. 

How have the expressive arts healed, transformed and guided you on your path?

Writing helps me reflect on my Self, i can see where my mind is based on my writing. Slightly scattered or in the point that touched the page.

All of these arts allow the transformation of energy, feeling and thought into something tangible and productive. It all has come so natural and effortlessly. To experience newness to the fullest. When I take photos,  I have the opportunity to share different perspectives of the world. It also allows me to save a moment in a persons life; I like taking photos of people in a moment, without them being aware of the fact. And when that being sees the photo, they go back, to that time and place. It's magic(: and dancing with fire poi, the cycles, the rhythm, the light, it flows, like life. There are paths of zero resistance, that create this beautiful dance. When I first started I was scared to be burned, and when I let go, I realized what I was scared of isn't scary. When I write it all down, I see how reflective it all is; it's life. Just knowing I'm here now writing this validates I'm on the right track. 

When you work, play and express with others in the creative realm, what mediums do you use? What is the power of those mediums as transformational tools?

This is interesting. (Haha) When I read this, I see my energetic field. I smile. I look at people in the eye and acknowledge them, witness them. Be fully present. It's an art in itself; being. 

How do you see the expressive arts being applied for healing/growth/change in your community? In the world?

I see it naturally taking place in all these aspects. Focusing on arts that allow creative expression gives one the opportunity to see pure self coming out to play. It gives opportunities for one to see, literally see, ego on paper. It allows a playful environment where one can take the serious face off and allow what is, to unravel as it should. A better way to analyze self. Plus, creative arts allowing the opportunity for expressing of ones self around the world will balance. I feel there is a need to be in touch with self and the feminine/masculine. In time, we will heal; in healing we experience growth and change that is reflective in Self, our community and in the world.  

Heal thy Self; Heal the World.
I Am Divine, My World is Divine.

These are some questions my friend Emma asked me for a reflective writing project she is doing in one of her classes at Evergreen State College. I wasn't sure how to answer them, and at first I felt like I wasn't answering them well enough, or with enough detail; but when I read them over and over again, it really showed me something about myself. I am my best mirror. 'How do I express my Self? Is it healing? How?' These questions kept popping into my head.

 

I realized how important writing is to my process of unraveling and understanding my conscious and subconscious Mind. 

 

 Try answering some of these questions for yourself, and see what your words show you(:

 

(((Thank you Emma!)))
                                                                           FEEL FREE
                                              & Allow me to suggest some Citta Flow for your ears.
                                                             https://soundcloud.com/citta-flow

Awh

The first day of spring.

Dance (IN) to Reality

That is exactly what we were doing this Saturday at Dream Dance, hosted by Om Culture every third Saturday of the month. A wide circular room with hard wood floors, each rectangular panel different from the next, and high ceilings still showing their bare bones invites all to circle under streams of white fabric pouring out from the center. Here is where Opening Ceremony begins. A meditation, setting the intention of the night; creating a bubble of love, and knowing. Singing bowls vibrating in tones of the Masculine and the Feminine. Heaven. From group meditation we are led in group yoga. The theme was self love and acceptance. Aloha. It was just what I needed.
People begin to trickle in from the door behind me framed with white curtains. We form circles out from the center. Nina, One who facilitates Dream Dance, sits on her knees in the center. She is acknowledging every one in the room; every one. She invites us to do the same. Smiling, and taking deep breaths, she speaks; introducing what it is we are creating together. As she lifts the clear crackle glass bowl holding a candle to her heart, she invites us to breathe and tone with one another. This candle represents our light as a collective whole, and the magic in that light. We meditate. My consciousness in that moment, is the flame, and around it.
The music begins and the circles begin to disperse. The dancing, being, socializing has begun. The lay out looks like this. To one side, stairs leading to Evergreen College students serving tea to guests sitting on tasseled pillows of all colors. Next to them, the visual director throwing scenes of blue water waves reflecting one another as they crash on to each others shore. Next to them in a clockwise flow is the musical artists, spreading their love through tones and vibrations. A man further right painting from the heart. A two faced being, moving in the spectrum of blue, red, and green light. And to the right of that, the Alter. You do as you wish here. There is paper to write your dreams on, your aspirations, your wishes. You attach the circular paper you just wrote on, with it's curved wire hook, in the webbed dream catcher.. allow the Universe to take care of the rest. Dreams do come true. Oh! And the Squish Lounge, a plethora of pillows brought and placed in clusters of size and purpose by the members of Mercury's Outpost. Chocolates top off the circle, 2 for $3 special. And special they were. A variety of flavors. I tried the orange one.
And in the center, ones dance. They sing, and crawl around as animals on the floor; we stretch and fly in the air with the support of our own. Acroyoga all around, I hear it's the best stretch. People sprawled on the pillows and bean bags enjoying the sight of people enjoying themselves. Here, ones are to be free. Express Self in any form. Own your Self!

If you would like to dance your dreams into reality with us, please! You are invited!

https://www.facebook.com/TheDreamDance

Earlier that day Danielle, Tesla, Steven, Abby my dog and I drove an hour or so North to Bellingham, Washington. We were meeting Louisa to pick the yurt and platform for The Sonosphere; her father and her designed and built it together, I understand why she wanted us to see how to properly assemble and disassemble each piece.

 It was pouring rain this time. We drove up a muddy road to a cabin in the rainforest. A black school bus is to my right stashed away in the leaves of the trees. Pulling up a few more feet we reach the cabin, 'it's always a beautiful day in the rainforest,' remarked Andrew, Louisa's friend, as we got out of Danielle's car and headed step by step to the wooden abode. The porch is decked with multicolored LED lights and wind chimes, each making a different song in a different tone. Inside, through the turquoise door, the room filled my being in celestial fullness, engulfing. Trinkets, holding divine resonant magic, line the walls on ledges made of wood; needles and thread and all the fabric you could imagine, in all the colors of this multifaceted reality we play and dream in, are scattered among the tables. Colored pencils and paper mark a moment for all to see. Colors and concepts coming to life in her design. Truly a creative space.

Louisa, is a wizard, a master of her art. Imaginative and playful, sees the world in the most spectacular way. The colors and the lines, the stitches and the textures; they fit so beautifully together; perfectly, would be a adjective. I find it so clever, the world she is creating, the visions coming to life with the willingness of others to bring this imagination to fruition; models, mannequins dressed up in this play.

She is the conductor of LUN Clothing. Interstellar faeries, multidimensional elves and conscious earth inhabited beings inspired the imagination to run with them, even fly with them. She indulges in custom coat, headdress, and wedding designs that are out of this world.

Check out some of her stuff! As soon as I saw one in person,  I decided it's something worth saving up for.

http://www.lunclothing.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Lun.Clothing

The Feeling Is Mutual

EAST

I call the Eastern powers of air,

You whose breath of life we share,

Bring understanding, kindness, care,

And loving words, both clear and fair,

Come bless this day our rite of love,

As above then so below.

Another beautiful day; a little overcast. The sky a giant grey cloud; it still makes you squint when you look up at it. Mary, one of my roommates at Our Sacred Acres, gracefully wisps her way into the room and puts a video on the screen. A glowing sun sign pulses from the center, shapes strategically placed in sequences allowing real time beats and waves to manifest in thin air. The Reactable; is what it is called. What an interesting new way to experience electronic music.

 This actually brought the Sonosphere to mind, a kinetic sound & light chamber designed for one to go deep into trance, meditation; a tool to explore ones' consciousness.

I have yet to experience this meditation style. I'm so excited for it to be at OSA later this year. Flying high and dreaming, now, we ground.
.

 Skipley Farm is in need of some major TLC. Gil has owned this property for 6 years, and is out there playing in the dirt every day. He feels most at home on the farm; I believe he would actually rather swirl palms in the dirt and tend to the land than go out of town on "vacation". The plants need selfless compassionate care to grow big and strong, all ego's aside; and that's what Gil and his Walkto crew do, but they need more hands on deck! 7 acres is a lot of labor for 5 gentlemen.

Some ideas started buzzing. The Walkto Crew contacted Crop Mob expressing how much they would appreciate their enthusiastic presence at the farm. And lucky us, they decided the feeling was mutual!

 The Official Crop Mobbers are a group of like minded farmers and gardeners getting together with the same intent and interest to work side by side on small farms and gardens and empower communities across America.

Click the link below and find Crop Mobbers in your city!

http://cropmob.org/

& Until they make their way to the farm, the Crew will continue their projects.

Today & Tomorrow our own Crop Mob featuring the Walkto Crew is at Walkto Farm!!! If any one wants to join in, you're always invited. & by the way, a moat is being built. Yes, a moat. (Pictures soon)

Thanks to the amazing ones stewarding the land at Walkto, and all around the world, we are given the opportunity to truly eat what our body needs. Real food. Real love.
We need to support them by lending a hand or tool to keep this lifestyle alive and prosperous.
No farms, no food.

And on that note, I've been experimenting;
Avocado, it ceases to amaze me with all it's magical ways of being.
Stretching and eating live food. Awe, The good life.

~ Cacao, Banana, Avocado Smoothie ~

1 Banana

1 Pear

1 Avocado

1/3 cup of Blueberries

1 1/2 teaspoons of Cacao

1/3 cup of Ice Water

Raw honey to taste

*I have also been putting bee pollen in my smoothies.

It goes great with the avocado!*

Much love to you!!
Enjoy your days <3

Spring Cleaning

Mercury's Outpost is lookin' good. The rain fell graciously the day we finished gathering things & stuff from outside. Spring cleaning is here; Energetically and Matter-ly...if that makes any sense. People coming in and out of our lives like the cyclical opportunities of a gear. Tangible items that were once the spotlight of a moment, being carried into a new home, a fresh place, to be steward by One in need of an external hard drive (to remind them of where they once where). Space being transformed, from a box with potential to a creative arena to nestle, stretch, and learn.

Mercury's Outpost is the trading post at Our Sacred Acres. It's basically a place where one will bring their energy as a skill or item and assign a value to it. When brought through the outpost your energy will be distributed in the form of a workshop, an item exchange, or a job! Yeah, pretty simple. As life is and shall always be.

All the guys from the farm came over; Sam, Tesla, Absalom, and Steven. Marcia came too. She's a gorgeous foreign chick from all over. She speaks German, Spanish, and English..eh-hem, any way..if you want to check out some of her mixes click (( here )). And again, I look at the clock, 2:22. It's definitely a reassuring occurrence.

So, the day goes like this. We were moving, shifting, tossing, and placing things all day, and all night. Danielle's cousin, Lokilani, is moving here in a couple of weeks; she makes a mean enchilada. All of her furniture was moved from her place in Seattle to Snohomish and planed on making it's way upstairs in Outpost. We quickly learned some sifting had to be done. Danielle has had guests stay at OSA often, as long time friends needing a place to stay while they ground themselves like the trees they are surrounded by, or as new ones traveling through needing a couch to surf on, she has always opened her home to such folks...And in the process, things get left behind. As a group, we went through everything, and cleared the space letting some items go for new ones to come in and take their place.With the six of us, we could only go so far. The process took about 13 hours. When Danielle (I have been calling her Wonder Woman lately) got home from work, the organizing started to take shape. It looks awesome. Nicely done team, nicely done. Now let's use it!
Bring your books! Bring your Skills! Bring anything you believe will add to the vibe we're creating. It's a group effort. I think the space is going to be used as a kitchen, reading room and lounge. It's all comin' together, as we say.

Aside from the clearing of space with sage and arranged belongings, I talked to Kelly and we will be attending Shambala Farm & Nursary, April 7, 2013 for a Herb Spiral Design Class. Oh, the art of healing with herbs, how humble I am knowing there's assistance in healing. If you would like to learn more, please check them out!

www.ShambalaFarm.com

I'm actually really excited for this workshop. A passion of mine currently, is learning, soaking it all up like a sponge; learning the basics I will need to keep myself and the Planet happy. Something of the sort includes herbalism and wild crafting. I want to take care of myself to the best of my ability,  practicing natruopathic ways through a healthy diet, exercise, being out doors and breathing to keep me blissful and vibrant (Hmm..Breatharians, it has me thinking. This will have to wait for now).

And The Art And Science of Mycorenewal! This is another opportunity I want to save up for.  It's 10 days of being immersed in the beautiful world of Mycorenewal. This is a place I am able to learn the skills, knowledge, and gain resources to implement a mycorenewal project in my community.

www.theartofmycorenewal.wordpress.com

There is so much to learn, and there is so many ways to do it. I am finding that with all the reading I have been doing, I must practice, and really experience what it is I am so intrigued by. It will all come in time.

Thank you so much for reading. 

Feel free to follow me on twitter!

Loving you ALL.

Ps. Excuse this post. As you can see the spring cleaning made me slightly scatter brained in that moment. It just goes to show, clear space, clear mind!

My Walk To

Yet another sunny day in Cascadia. Today I journeyed 8 miles west to Walkto Farms on Skipley Road in Snohomish. Dogs chasing chickens, people poking around in the dirt and the aroma of potent spices fills the farm house...I think it's thai short ribs, made by Absalom, the go to thai food master. Music plays outdoors for the ones getting into the groove as the sun says its thank you's and see you soon's. Oh yeah, and our neighbor brought Essy over, a mini horse.

~ Welcome To Skipley : Walkto Farms ~

Essy is heterochromia: one blue eye, one brown eye.

This is Tea. She's one of our chicken experts.

The new garden going in by the house. Bok Choy for days.

Hoop house covered; Spinach beds prepped.

Fresh eggs from the coop Sam built!

Composting toilet made from pallets and scrap wood.

 

This is my pup, Abby!

Beautiful, Just Beautiful

Today is (you guessed it) such a gorgeous day(; I witnessed the days range from sun shining through the window in a rectangular shape on the floor, to small beads of ice hailing from the skies, to tears from the heavens washing away the the intense moments prior. The sun returned shining bright through clouds parting for clarity, inviting, welcoming ones to soak up the rays and nurture the body and mind.

I took a walk.
This is what I see.

~ Welcome to Our Sacred Acres ~

& This is a song by Boards Of Canada. Enjoy(:

Here I Am

Here I am, in this moment, soaking up the magnified rays of the sun through the layer of cloud cover. Sitting on a bench that stretches all the way across this south facing window, I peer through the glass over my right shoulder. I see the glossy deck wet with the days’ early rain and cedars reaching to the white sky upright and tall. I always turn to the trees for lessons on how to be.

 

 So blessed, I am, in this space, in this time.

 

How did I get here, and where exactly…is here, are some questions you might be asking, actually.

 

I’ll start from the point that has the most relevance. It’s actually quite the fairy tale journey, like all of our lives are when we pay attention.
I was born August tenth, nineteen eigh- eh hem eh hem, excuse me...

 

I moved to Seattle, Washington about a year ago in February. I shared an apartment with a couple of people and didn’t have a car. Tesla, a friend of mine who I was spending lots of my time with, invited me to a BBQ. He said I can invite a friend and he would arrange a ride to bring us to the gathering. It was raining; I remember (go figure). 

 

The one that we are carpooling with is Spencer. I met up with him after a day selling roasted corn under the space needle (but that’s another story). We started speaking with each other as if we have been friends forever. I explained to him that I always felt like water has a great deal to do with the conductivity of energy and how it may have something to do with the way it shapes our reality. He showed me the work of Dr. Masaru Emoto.                                                                                                                                                                                               

Be aware of your thoughts. They are what shape your reality.

 

Here is another ~VIDEO~ displaying some of Dr. Masaru Emotos experiments. 

My heart and mind are just beginning to be blown open learning that what I have been experiencing is, in fact, real. Or, as real as you make it(;

 

We get to the location of the BBQ (Rolland Gregg’s House), and walked in. Not that many people and definitely no one I knew.
There are all sorts of foods to choose from. After we made our plate we sit down in a room that has a projector screen pulled down, and it was starting to feel like some work was about to get done. 

 

I soon find out that this is a “Meet Up” group that Traverse has set up online for this gathering of the Ones. The intention of this is to create connections within the people of the community. We go around in a circle and introduce our self. I have no idea why I was even there. I don’t even enjoy giving an introduction of myself. All I could say in that moment was, “thank you”. 

I was sitting next to a couple, Kat and Sean, which was up next for introductions. They mentioned Las Vegas being where they currently reside. I knew that my dad should get in contact with them and check out what they are dishin’ up. They were talking about a sustainable development they call Kailasa. My dad, Glenn, did what I suggested. He went to a few of their “Meet Ups” in Las Vegas and started a new friendship and connection. 

 

Next thing you know, The Global Phoenix has risen. Glenn had been working on this Non Profit since 2005, when he was gifted the Global Phoenix Foundation by its Founders, one of whom was no longer able to run the organization. Glenn reorganized Global Phoenix, appointed a new Board and Executive Director but eventually had to put the Foundation “on the back burner” due to several factors.  We now realize that it was waiting for the perfect moment to rise from the ashes and integrate love and life back into peoples’ routines with the ability to support Farms, Intentional Communities and Education for today’s world of sustainability and Permaculture. New board members joined the team like Kat, the beaut and grounded soul I met at Rolland’s for the first “Meet Up”. And in this moment I am humbled to say I am a part of this team too. I contribute by keeping people connected to what is being accomplished here in our community.

 

Feel Free and follow my blog entries here at the Global Phoenix Foundation website! I will keep you informed and, hopefully, you will become a supporter of the Global Phoenix Foundation and the Cascadia Collective. Together, we can create a wonderful group of forward-thinking people that creating an exciting new model of sustainable community collaboration and development.

 

http://www.globalphoenix.org/

 

 Eh – Hem, Any way.
So this leads me here; where I am today.

 

Sound Convergence carried on more meetings and quickly weeded out into its core group. We spend time together brainstorming and implementing ideas. If you have any you would like to share, feel free! Here are links to the Sound Convergence page and group.

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/soundconvergencenetwork/?ref=ts&fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/soundconvergence?ref=ts&fref=ts

 

Months passed between first moving to Washington and moving to Snohomish in June. I learned so much moving north and living on this land of food and flowers. I learned that knowing where my food comes from and what I put in my body, makes me a whole new person. I learned to be more aware of what I take in compared to what I give out. I learned how to plant seeds and the importance of permaculture and water! I learned that how I take care of the plants is a reflection of my ego. I learned a lot, and appreciate having the opportunity to have experienced that (Thank you Gil). Well, after living on Skipley Farm for 7 months, I decided a change was needed, and I am ready to move forward. 

 

Danielle offered me a chance to share space and contribute to the land with herself and Mary. Danielle is a beautiful woman I met at the “Meet Up” BBQ. She introduced the property she stewards called Our Sacred Acres. I ran into her again, after first moving to the farm, attending one of the many events she throws here on the property. We were aware of the connection we shared, and knew it is going to last.

 

This land we call Our Sacred Acres is a property in Snohomish County, Washington. It is 3 ½ acres of old growth trees and dreams that manifest themselves in a timely manner …we’re definitely on the path of zero- resistance . The property is designed and set to the golden ratio of the Fibonacci spiral. As soon as one enters the Snohomish County, it is all right turns to the tip of the ridge where this home rests in the trees. Well, it’s 2:22 and I am just starting to explain how I experience this property. Right on time (;  

 

http://oursacredacres.com/

 

The feeling I get while being here is a tranquil deep relaxation. It’s a place to explore. To explore the Self and to explore what nature has to offer; whether it is music manifesting itself in your head or the feeling of “Awe”; a healing land, a place to meditate and encompass the practices of yoga; a place to dance and let loose and be one with it ALL, as you are; a place to build and create. All you need is within you and all around you.

 

Mercury’s Outpost is the trading post for the land we call Our Sacred Acres (OSA), as well as (Skipley) Walkto Farms, Evolver Sound Convergence, and Native Clean Energy. Mercury’s Outpost acts as a collective Qi Exchange that creates local micro-fests and collaborates with macro-fests to bring our PRODUCE to the PEOPLE and vice versa! As of today, we are designing a “(r)evolving council” that will be creating a business entity for Mercury’s Outpost and hittin’ the road! We will be attending conscious culture music festivals sharing abundance, in whatever form that will take.  

 

Skipley Farm is a Walkto Farm located in Snohomish County. This farm has the ability to distribute 7.6 acres of produce to the locals in the area. Gil has been playing in the dirt and loving it for the past 6 years at this property in 2012. Currently Skipley Farm is preparing to distribute naturally organic grown food to keep people in this society happy and healthy. Skipley Farm has the best strawberries by the way. They were a hit this past summer of 2012 at the Snohomish Farmers Market. One of our weekly customers exclaimed “best strawberryies in the market since the 70’s” and yes, they are that good. Giant red candies. The perfect amount of sugar in the 4 bite sized berry. Not to mention the other fresh produced we offer, from blueberries, chokeberries (aronia berries), jostaberries, to kale, chard, onions, cabbage and broccoli, potato, beets and carrots (gotta love the root!) and last but DEFINITELY not least, APPLES! There are over 100 varieties! Check us out!

 

 http://walktofarms.com/

 

“This land is our land” as they say.

 

Oh! And Native Clean Energy was formed by Rolland Gregg! His mission is to empower communities with affordable and sustainable energy. N.C.E seeks out the most technologically advanced renewable energy solutions that develop an effective, synergistic relationship between our communities and our planet. Rolland has focused both on expanding research & development into new energy, food, lighting, shelter & transportation technologies while keeping feet firmly planted on the ground in understanding where renewable energy solutions can be implemented. If you would like to learn more, you should check out the website!!

 

http://www.nativecleanenergy.com/

 

Rolland Gregg also works with something called the Unification Coil. If you haven’t heard of Marko Rodin’s or Randy Powell’s work yet, you need to check it out. It’s a sure fire way to get your brain melting, in the best way of course. 

http://vortexmath.webs.com/

 

Well, we are all working together to make these shared dreams and concepts into a reality we may all interact with. We have the ability and the knowing to transition into higher vibration in respect for this beautiful planet. Implementing the tools and sources we have into a natural state of harmony and balance, will ensure this vision. We welcome you. 

 

Oh! And follow me on twitter if you’d like! There will be updates on my personal “in the moments” as well as information on the Collective. https://twitter.com/AppleSeidhr