Mia Staysko, an interior designer and certified Feng Shui Professional, has communicated with me a couple of times this past year responding to the website and newsletters.  She has contributed this story about creating a sacred space to resume her daily meditation practice.  She lives near Calgary.  Thank you Mia!

I have recently returned to my meditation practice after about a year long hiatus. I was diligent for nearly 18 months in making sure that I ‘sat’ every day. After setting up a special corner, a sort of ‘sacred space’ for myself I have come again to the silence. It is easier, I think, to meditate when we have a space to call our own. A sort of self imposed ‘time out’ place that we can go to when we need to know ourselves.

A corner, room or spot which is set up just for the purpose of reflection, meditation or prayer draws us in and calls us to practice. It waits patiently for us to take up the offer and just be, if only for a few minutes. It also will not judge us when we are unable.

While it can be hard to carve out a little niche for something which can seem self indulgent, it really makes a big difference to the consistency of our daily sit.

Mia Staysko

Feng Shui practitioner, Calgary, AB, Canada

mia@whitelotusinteriors.ca

www.carryoutkindness.com

I’ve spent twelve summers at my current home and just this morning found a new, delicious, serene and nurturing space in which to do my morning practices. My normal morning ritual is to go downstairs, make coffee, bring it upstairs and get very cozy in my comfortable bed with big pillows and do my daily reading/writing/meditating in that space. I love my bedroom space. I can look out the window and see the seasons changing; it is light and airy, spacious and warm.

This morning instead I took my coffee outside on the back patio deck and sat and watched the beautifully colored wild birds dance around the birdfeeder. Saw hummingbirds examine the new feeder and come back to eat! The air outside was coolish; this space gets afternoon sun so is shaded in the morning. I was surrounded by blooming roses, green trees and a bubbling fountain; just me, the birds, nature and my books and journal. What a joyful, peaceful and soul feeding experience that was.

Sitting there I was struck with the awareness that I had lived in this space for thirteen years and never experienced the gift of morning time on the back deck. I spend lots and lots of afternoon time in the sun there. I wondered how many other wonderful experiences I have missed because of my tunnel vision, seeing only what had become familiar to me. How easy it is to keep returning to what I know and trust and is routine rather than taste something new.

My reading this morning included Alan Cohen’s message for the day from his book A Daily Dose of Sanity, and it was so on target. It was entitled “Peripheral Vision” and discussed how when we are fearful that fear narrows our corridor of sight. I wasn’t fearful this morning, yet my corridor of sight was very narrow. I think “routine” narrows our corridor of sight.

As I was completed my morning practices and was ready to return in to the house I saw two white butterflies flying together in an upward spiral as though they were dancing…up, up, up and away. And I thought about the joy and peace that comes from seizing the moment; don’t wait to seize the day. Revel in, enjoy, roll around in and taste, seize this moment and soon you will have a whole day.

“You can assess the sate of your mental health by

the number of options you are aware of.”

unknown

Carol McKeag, CPC

Life Coach & Spiritual Mentor

www.Coachingforlifeandspirit.net

Natural Salt Lamps

February has brought harsh weather to much of the country. Here in Portland, it’s just chilly and damp, typical for this time of year. I keep my salt lamps on all day and they seem to improve the ambience in a number of ways. The warm glow and gentle light from the salt lamps and candle holders create a relaxing atmosphere at home and in the office. It has long been known that warm salt crystals create negative ions purifying the air near computers and televisions. Some office workers, particularly sensitive to florescent lighting and computer monitors report considerably less fatigue and headaches if the concentration of negative ions in the air is increased. How that works for salt lamps is not entirely understood.

Personally, I find them to be a lovely accent light in any case, and if they are beneficial to health, all the better.

Pyramid Salt Lamp

My favorite is the Pyramid Salt Lamp shown here but actually the Natural Salt Lamp shown above has been more popular with CQS customers. Also, the votive and tea light holders are a wonderful gift for yourself or a friend. I have three salt crystal tea light holders around the base of my Kwan Yin Standing on Lotus and the lighting is subtle and lovely.

Small Tea Light Holder

The salt from these lamps is removed from mines in the Himalayas although there are mines in Russia and central Europe where salt lamps originate also. A salt lamp is made from a chunk of mined salt that has been hollowed out to allow room for a light bulb or tiny candle. Some chunks are more refined to a particular shape such as the pyramid lamp. The light glows through the medium of the salt crystal, which can range in color from a salmon pink to a pale orange.

The best selling salt lamp on the website is the Fire Bowl that includes 10 salt crystal chunks each with a hollowed out space for the light, a 110V light string with 10 bulbs and a ceramic bowl.

Fire Bowl

What do you do to take care of yourself during this challenging winter? You are welcome be be a Guest Blogger and share your stories of how you create personal sanctuary. Email your story to nancy@creatingquietspaces.com.

Nancy Goodwin, Owner

Creating Quiet Spaces

Nancy, Owner

Creating Quiet Spaces

Posted November 23, 2009 on Carrie’s Link’s blog fully-caffeinated.blogspot.com

AN ONLINE CIRCLE

As those of you who visit here regularly know, Deb Shucka and I are offering a writing workshop in Portland starting in January. We are amazed and excited that so many of you have asked about the possibility of an online memoir writing class, as well. So it is with pleasure that we are announcing one, to begin Monday, January 11. (We still have 2 more spots in the in-person class, if you live in the Portland area.)

Many of you are in situations where going to a class won’t work, but you’re hungry for a memoir writing community and for the accountability attending a class creates. If you’re looking for a safe place in which to tell your story and receive support and feedback, whether it’s your first effort or whether you’ve finished a book, this class will satisfy that need.

We will provide prompts, deadlines, teachings that will add to your craft tool kit, and detailed feedback for your writing. You will write, share your writing, and offer gentle feedback and support to each other.

Please contact us for cost and additional information. We’re looking forward to learning and writing and moving closer to the light of truth together with you.

carriewilsonlink@comcast.net or dshucka@teleport.com

This blog entry particularly moved me as my father was also a WW II veteran. Her father’s modeling has obviously contributed to her fearlessness to stick her neck out to help others. Thank you Teri for letting me post your October 14, 2009 blog post.

The Turtle Creed

Turtles are bright eyed, bushy tailed, fearless and unafraid folk with a fighter pilot attitude. (That’s me, lol) They think clean, have fun a lot, and recognize the fact that you never get any place worthwhile in life unless you stick your neck out.

Adherence to the creed and always giving the password when asked are the only responsibilities placed on our membership. You will find that life is more fun and takes on new meaning when you are a “Turtle”.

Want to become an official member of the club? Email me at teri@theblissnetwork.com.

Blisstory Question:  What do you do to honor your father?

Are you a turtle?

This week marks the 14th anniversary of my father’s death! He is one of the greatest men I will ever know. I say ‘is’ because he is alive in my mind and heart and will be till I join him on the other side.

For those of you that have not had the honor of meeting him, I’m sharing a little bit about him. He was a WWII P.O.W., captured at the Battle of the Bulge and held, initially, in the Nazi Infirmary then sent to the adjoining camp. After being liberated, he was given a Purple Heart for serving his country. He never really talked much about the experience, but shared one love he gained from his countrymen; becoming an honorary member of The Turtle Club.

Every time a friend came to visit he shared The Turtle Creed (read above) and inducted them into the club. The Turtle Creed (again, read above) starts with “Turtles are bright eyed, bushy tailed, fearless and unafraid folk with a fighter pilot attitude. They think clean, have fun a lot, and recognize the fact that you never get any place worthwhile in life unless you stick your neck out.”

Yes, at first it was quite embarrassing, as a teen, to have your friends cornered by your Dad for some stupid club! As an adult, I am reminded that those words and the gifts he gave my friends are not so stupid. In fact, it’s incredibly brilliant and probably accounts for a big reason I am “The Bliss Lady.”

Why am I sharing this with all of you? I’m here to remind you that no matter what your circumstance, no matter how downtrodden and in the dumps life seems to be, there’s always another second to turn that all around. Carry a fighter pilot attitude and start flying high! Call or email me at Teri@theBlissNetwork.com and I’ll induct you into the club, where you’ll get your own “shell” and a complete copy of the Turtle Creed.

Don’t forget to ask me if I’m a turtle… If I don’t give you the secret password, I’ll owe you the drink of your choice. (I’m sure you all know mine…Coffee!) Most importantly, you’ll have a constant reminder to go ahead and “Stick your neck out!”

Smiles…The Bliss Lady
http://theblissnetwork.blogspot.com
http://www.theblissnetwork.com

Well, I finally did it!  At least a little bit of “it”.  Since beginning this business venture, I have been told countless times by various consultants, marketing people, friends, artists, nieces and nephews that social marketing is essential to making my business work. A baby boomer and a strong believer in the benefits of a personal computer, I have been resistant to Facebook, My Space and Twitter.  After all, they all seem antithetical to creating a quiet space and trying to chill out.  It all seems kind of hyper’ish to me…. but I’m trying to get the message out about my business and apparently this is what one is supposed to do.  So this is how I’m trying to resolve my dilemma.

Back in June, I was dragged kicking and screaming into making a Facebook page by my web designer, Jill at Firefly Design. She actually started doing it while sitting next to me, and I put  in my birthdate, name and web address for my business - the reason I did the Facebook page! A few days later I told one person that I started a “page” and she emailed the entire mailing list of my graduating class at West Linn High School! To my shock, within a day I had 20-30 messages on my whatever the heck a “Wall” is!  I was freaked out by the messages that suddenly appeared, some even seemed to be personal blogs with pictures and all…. I didn’t know what to do with all those messages.  Was I supposed to respond to them?  If I did, would my message be posted on everyone else’s Wall?  So, I’ve pretty much ignored those messages, not meaning to be rude, but I never did figure out how to manage that “page”.  I continue to ignore it and if someone asks to be my friend an email message gives me notification, I just click “yes” and don’t even have to get on Facebook.

Yesterday, for the first time, while putting together my Fan page, my 25 year old niece showed me how to look at my Facebook page. Yikes! I can’t believe I’m going forward with this but I had to - I’m paying a promotional professional and she insists that I do the Fan page to get out messages about my business.  So far, I have 6 Fans in 24 hours, mostly relatives, bless their hearts. We’ll see what happens.  If you want to be a Fan, here’s the link http://www.facebook.com/pages/Portland-OR/Creating-Quiet-Spaces/155398342689?v=wall

Who knows, someday I might really get into this social media thing and try Twitter, but for now, NO WAY! Maybe, just maybe, it won’t be so intimidating to me at some point. We’ll see….

Nancy Goodwin, Owner

www.creatingquietspaces.com

nancy@creatingquietspaces.com

Dragonfly Tile by Jill Gibson

While on an all too brief 3 day retreat at the Oregon Coast last week I had wonderful luck to sit on the sun deck for a couple of hours observing birds, bees, and dragonflies with the Pacific Ocean in the background. It reminded me I’d gotten an email in June from a potential customer who had seen several dragonfly-themed items on the website and referred me to some information. Since then I’ve been collecting info here and there for a blog.

In my nearly ten years of owning retail businesses anything with a dragonfly on it – jewelry, stationery, art, pottery, whatever… draws customers. But oddly, I rarely see them alive. My brief research indicates that not only are dragonflies well loved and beautiful, both living and in design, but they are fascinating and unique insects.

Dragonfly Heart Spirit Heart Rattle by J. Davis

Some facts from Wikipedia: The female dragonfly lays her eggs in or near water, often on floating plants. They hatch into a larvae form known as a “nymph”. While in that stage, which lasts for 2 months to 5 years depending on the size of the species, they live underwater and breathe through gills located in their rectum.

When the larva is ready to metamorphose into an adult, it climbs up a reed or other plant. Exposure to air causes the larva to begin breathing. The skin splits at a weak spot behind the head and the adult dragonfly crawls out of its old larval skin, pumps up its wings, and flies off to feed on mosquitos and flies. The adult stage of larger species can live up to five or six months, a short time compared to it’s long nymph stage.

Dragonfly Turtle by Ruth Apter

The adult dragonfly is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body. What makes them really amazing is in flight the adult dragonfly can propel itself in six directions; upward, downward, forward, back, and side to side. The wings of most dragonflies are held away from and perpendicular to the body when at rest, distinguishing them from the similar damselflies.

According to http://www.dragonfly-site.com/meaning-symbolize.html,  “The meaning of a dragonfly changes with each culture. Symbolism of the dragonfly include renewal, positive force and the power of life in general.  Dragonflies can also be a symbol of the sense of self that comes with maturity. Also, as a creature of the wind, the dragonfly frequently represents change.  And as a dragonfly lives a short life, it knows it must live its life to the fullest with the short time it has – which is a lesson for all of us.”

Dragonfly and Gingko Copper and Glass Wall Fragment by Creekmore Durham

“There are many different representations of the dragonfly; it all comes down to which culture you happen to be in.  For instance, if you are in Japan, the dragonfly symbolizes a new light and joy. Some animal symbolism has the dragonfly representing good luck, prosperity, swiftness, purity, harmony and strength. Some Native Americans believe dragonflies are the souls of the dead. There are also many cultures that believe that the meaning of a dragonfly is happiness, courage and subconscious thoughts. It is also believed that if you see two dragonflies paired together that they represent love and maturity.”

Read more information about Cheyenne and Dakota symbolism here.

Also see these dragonfly-themed items: Small Dragonfly Milgros Bowl, Soaring Dragonflies
 Copper Wall Fragment, Meditation Flags, and Heart Shaped Ceramic Box

Hanging Willow Wishnest

During the process of creating this business, I cleared out all my personal trinkets/tchotchkes to make way for a CQS showroom in my living space.  At first I thought I would miss the miscellaneous items collected over the years - gifts, inherited knickknacks, travel memorabilia, statues, small pieces of wall art, etc.  Nevertheless, everything had to go to avoid confusion for potential showroom visitors. Funny thing, now after 9 or 10 months, I haven’t missed anything.  In fact, I can’t remember what’s in the boxes stored in the basement. Now, at least to my way of thinking, each and every item in my showroom and living space is something I chose because it has symbolic meaning and would be something to encourage a quiet, meditative space.

Today I’m noticing the wonderful nests, three different styles that have recently joined the other handcrafted sanctuary items in my showroom; the Willow Wishnest that hangs and the two other nests that can sit on a table, dresser or hearth. I searched the internet for information about the symbolic meaning of nests. I first thought of home, safety and family but here are some things I found while searching:

Also mentioned are concepts as such as “nest egg”, “leaving the nest” and “feathering the nest”. Nest is also a verb meaning to move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position, cuddle, snuggle.

Pewter Wishnest with Turquoise Eggs

Another source, Aisling Ireland, BellaOnline’s Dreams Editor, located at http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art20069.asp, “Eggs are an obvious symbol of fertility as they contain a new life inside waiting to hatch. In dreams eggs may symbolize the same idea only the life waiting to break out of the shell may be some new talent or idea. The important thing to remember is that the egg symbolizes something new, something that is still gestating. Whatever is growing inside you needs time to develop and must be carefully looked after because eggs are fragile creatures.”

According to Dream Coach Leon Nacson,
http://www.dreamcoach.com.au/default.asp?page=symbols&search=Nest says a quick decode for a nest in a dream is home; commitment; comfort.  He asks the dreamer, “What kind of nest do you see in your dream? Tiny birds can build the most intricate nests that are engineering feats. Do you want to be secure, grounded, well established, and protected?”

Birds Nest with Pearl Eggs

In my search I saw that a nest with eggs represents good things happening business-wise. Right there is a good reason to have nests in my showroom!  Take a look at these three unique nests by clicking on the pictures, Willow Wishnest and the pewter Wishnest, both by artist Alise Sheehan, and Cnythia Webb’s design with the pearl “eggs” in the pewter nest.

Nancy Goodwin, Owner
Creating Quiet Spaces

Raven Patina Bowl by Creekmore Durham

Last night at “book group”, seven women came together at my home to talk about a book that we had decided to read and discuss at our last meeting. A new group member walked in for the first time and looked around at the treasures in my home “showroom”.  Apparently noticing a number of ceramic animal pieces, she asked if I had anything with the Raven theme, her husband’s power animal.  I showed her several items and while there was not time to ask her more about their “meaning” I became more curious about the Raven as a power animal and did a little research today.

Ravens are the largest songbirds in North America and are known for their ability to mimic the calls of other

Raven Treasure Box by Rolling Raven Studio

animals and even some human words. Due to their large size, intensely dark coloring, their loud and raucous croak, along with the dubious reputation for cleaning up nature by eating dead animals, than can seem frightening and intimidating. They are said to be the “keeper of secrets” and the “teachers of mysticism”.  According to www.animaltotem.com, they are about heightened awareness and consciousness and are here to help us be reunited with the mysteries of the universe so we can expel our inner demons.

According to the website www.shamanicjourney.com, “Ravens have this power, giving out varied sounds, and can assist us in shifting our consciousness into various dimensional realms. Hence this is a reason why the raven is referred to as a shape shifter with magical powers. ‘Raven people’ can expect continual changes and spiritual awakenings throughout their lifetime.”

Rolling Raven by Rolling Raven Studio

Check out the these Raven pieces on the CQS website. If you have comments about the Raven or would like to share what you know about power animals, please be a guest blogger.

Nancy Goodwin, Owner
Creating Quiet Spaces
nancy@creatingquietspaces.com

Sometimes we work so hard to put something together for a presentation, a customer, or a promotional opportunity, and then “nothing” happens. Of course, maybe something is happening but it just hasn’t materialized in a way that is obvious or can be measured.  Why is it that we like to see fruits of our labor?  Perhaps it is to know it was worth the effort, time and money, whatever.  What I tell myself when I’m in that uncomfortable place is that if we are truly coming from authenticity and following the path of our heart, something good will come of the effort even if it is never shown in a material way. Perhaps a seed was planted with someone somewhere and those efforts might eventually germinate to become to benefit someone.

I still have a lot of work to do on that but it is a comfort to know that it is something others struggle with at times.

*The Four-Fold Way is trademarked by Angeles Arrien, a well-known cultural anthropologist, who has written several books including and The Second Half of Life and The Tarot Handbook.  I was lucky to have had the opportunity to study with her at the California Institute of Integral Studies and more recently at a weekend workshop titled “Second Half of Life”.  Angie has written several books, and has educational programs that are detailed on her website, http://www.angeleesarrien.com.  Her Four-Fold Way in its briefest terms is stated below:

Show up and choose to be present
Pay attention to what has heart and meaning
Tell the truth without blame or judgment
Be open to outcome, not attached to outcome

Those have been very useful guidelines for me over the last 20 years, both in developing two retail businesses and while being a mental health counselor.  Maybe they can be of use to you.  If you have anything you’d like to share on this blog, please let me know.

Nancy Goodwin, Owner
www.creatingquietspaces.com
nancy@creatingquietspaces.com