Wrapped up in Christmas: Bach Flowers to Match your Style

Okay, I'm procrastinating, I'll admit that right away.  As I type this blog, I'm surrounded by Christmas paper, tape, scissors, ribbons, and did I mention tape?? I really need to get just a couple of presents wrapped up and ready to send so they make it there before Christmas.  It isn't a long "to do" list.  The hard part should be done, but I just can't seem to get those things wrapped up!! Some people really enjoy the wrapping process.  They make a ritual out of it- put on a Christmas movie, get out the supplies, pour a glass of something or other and make it an event.  I just can't get there.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to figure out some Bach Flower essences to take first if I ever want to get this done.

It can often be difficult to figure out just which Bach Flower essence is your "type", or right for you.  It occurs to me that there might be some distinguishing factors according to how you approach gift wrapping.  Warning: this list is not "Dr. Bach approved"- just a thought to be considered:

Agrimony- when everyone at work is talking about how much they enjoyed wrapping gifts by the fireplace on the weekend you smile, agree, say you love it too, are going to get at yours done tonight and make a joke about how it goes better with a stiff drink. But really, you weren't kidding about that drink- you hate wrapping if you really think about it, but you don't want people to know that.

Beech- you sometimes enlist family members in the wrapping process. After all - this should be a family event. But in the end you find yourself wrapping by yourself because really they all use way too much tape, never get the right color combinations and are just always wanting the scissors at the same time you need them anyway.

Centaury- not only are you doing your own wrapping although you really don't like to, you've agreed to do the wrapping for your boss, the lady down the street and the volunteer toy drive. You just couldn't say no.

Cerato- the wrapping is taking a bit longer than it should  because you keep asking everyone else what color bow you should match with each box and "does this look alright". You had a plan for this whole wrapping thing, but you're just not sure if it's right.

Cherry Plum- if you've thrown anything against the wall in frustration , or ripped anything apart in a fit of anger during the process of wrapping- this Bach is for you!

Chestnut Bud- every year you find yourself surrounded by wrapping "stuff" , tape and scissors, and every year you find yourself typing your blog instead...

Chicory- you spend as much time picking out just the right wrapping supplies as you do the presents themselves when it comes to your kids and loved ones.  You know they won't appreciate it, they never do, but you really hope some day they will appreciate all the extra effort you go to.

Clematis- you  imagine how wonderful the idea of a lit fireplace, some mulled cider, all the family gathered around to wrap the gifts together would be.  You considered calling some friends and doing the wrapping together over a pot luck get-to-gather. You 've thought of lots of ideas, but you end up on Christmas eve trying to get the wrapping done alone because you didn't actually put the dream into action.

Crab Apple- you hate the idea of the mess that wrapping presents creates.  All those little pieces of paper, the garbage of tags and little bits of tape all over the place.  The idea of the clean up is what prevents you from getting the job done in the first place.  You'd have to vacuum the floor before you could even set things down on it...

Elm- you feel overwhelmed at the thought of the wrapping.  It took all your energy just to get the presents in the first place, plus you got a lot of things to help out other people because everyone is busy at this time of year.  You don't think you can possibly find it in you to deal with this.

Gentian-after you got all the wrapping stuff out and set yourself up for the task, you discovered you forgot to buy tape. You have given up, are going to eat chocolate ice-cream instead and watch a movie that matches your depression.

Heather- well if it weren't for the sore throat you're feeling, your hip that's acting up, the doctor's appointment you have scheduled for next week and all the Christmas baking you have to do, you might be able to get to that wrapping.  You decide to call a friend and tell her about your latest diagnosis first...

Holly- what really bugs you is those people that can afford to buy those fancy wrapping boxes that require no work- the kind they always have in the T.V. shows. Everyone else probably takes their presents somewhere to have them professionally wrapped, you're pretty sure that's a marketing ploy created by "big business"

Honeysuckle- you long for the days when everyone had only one present and it was a homemade gift that didn't require wrapping...

Hornbeam- you're writing your blog instead of getting started on that wrapping project

Impatiens- you started out okay on the wrapping event, but part way in the tape was sticking to everything, the boxes weren't exactly the right shape, and you don't have the patience to fold everything just so. Now you're "hockey sticking" tape around  the boxes, squashing things inside,  and figuring it's what inside that counts.  Who has the patience to put on bows anyway

Larch- if only you could wrap presents as well as most people seem to you'd  be okay. You think you most likely could if you put your mind to it, but you're worried they won't be just right so you've hired you're 7 year old to do the job instead.

Mimulus- you're afraid people are going to laugh at your eco-friendly wrapping paper.  You really want to use this stuff and you've spent a lot of time creating it from recycled products but it sounded better to you in September when no one was going to see it.

Mustard- you just have such a cloud hanging over your head you can't imagine Christmas even coming.  There's no known reason for the gloom, but you can't seem to shake it off in order to even feel like buying the wrapping supplies

Oak- you'll be doing your wrapping at midnight on Christmas Eve. You do this every year because you always take on a million extra projects at Christmas time- you just have to, it's part of being a family.  You'll struggle through it and it will get done. You'll be exhausted and maybe even too sick on Christmas day to open your own presents, but the wrapping under the tree will be beautiful

Olive- you have been at the mall all day long. It wasn't fun.  It feels like you have been trying to do things to get "ready for Christmas" all year long.  You open the door, carry in the last of the presents, see the wrapping supplies on your table and burst into tears.  You're too exhausted for words..

Pine- you put a sticky on each present apologizing for the messy wrapping. Every time you hand a gift over to someone you apologize for the wrapping as well. You also apologize for not teaching your children how to wrap well. You know it's all your fault

Rock Water- your presents are a work of art, perfect in every way.  If you don't have exactly the right supplies, you go out and get them.  All your corners are perfect, your bows look like they have professionally custom created.  It's important to you that the wrapping is perfect and you'll stay up late just to accomplish it. You believe everyone should put the same kind of care and concern into wrapping. There's no excuse for messiness.

Sclernathus- you couldn't decide whether you should wrap presents or bake cookies.  You agonized over the decision until it's too late to start either one. You'll just go to bed instead. Maybe tomorrow you can flip a coin, or ask someone...

Vervain- you have started a campaign within your family and the community boycotting the wrapping of presents this year. It's way too harmful on the environment and puts the emphasis on the wrong things. Instead of wrapping you are making posters to set up in all businesses to further your cause. You'll stay up late making lists of who you can recruit and how you can take this campaign national.

Vine- you gave all your unwrapped presents to that Centaury person from the office. They'll wrap them for you. They better- or else!

Water Violet - you have sealed yourself off for the weekend to wrap presents all by yourself. In fact, you'll gladly skip the office party to do the wrapping alone. You don't have many people to buy gifts for anyway because you're really not a "social animal".

White Chestnut- you got some of the wrapping done but now you can't sleep.  You keep wondering if you got the right present, if it will get there in time, if you put the right postal code on the box, if you got the right present, if it will get there in time...

Wild Rose- you don't really feel strongly one way or the other about the wrapping. You don't like it but you just consider it part of life and Christmas. It isn't enjoyable but it just has to be done. You'll get it done one of those days..

Willow- you're not sure why you're always the one that has to do the wrapping. It really doesn't seem fair, but then again you do most of the preparation for Christmas anyway.  Everyone else just sits back and enjoys the season, but you work like a dog...

If of those, or a combination of those sounds like you, the Bach Flower's might be helpful to the process.   If you'd like a Bach Flower consult- go on my website www.pixiedusthealing.com and sign up for a consult- please.. it would take me away from the wrapping!!!! Sigh....

Full Moon in Germini & Lunar Eclipse

Tomorrow, December 10th marks a full moon in Gemini and a Lunar Eclipse.  This is a pretty big astrological event, so I thought it warranted some reflection in the days leading up to it!

The moon in Gemini really highlights communication. Gemini's are talkers and that's the first and foremost attribute you will likely notice about them. When the moon is in Gemini we wake up and quicken our communication. Conversations sparkle and our thinking often broadens. The influences of the moon in Gemini may make you feel like networking or brainstorming with others.

The New Moon this month was in Sagittarius http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.com/2011/11/sun-and-moon-in-sagittarius-bach-flower.html and that highlighted information and communication as well. So now that this moon is going into it's full phase, you really may feel the urge to talk about things and to talk fast and furious about all that information you have gathered! Sagittarius is a fire sign, and Gemini an air sign so that means the fire that began under the new moon is being fueled to a frenzy now. Both these signs are pretty light hearted but face paced so there is an energy of impatience around this full moon.  We want things to happen faster and sooner and we may quicken our communications to try and achieve that.

This is a pretty fast-paced time of year to begin with and this moon will really accentuate those feelings in us. When the full moon is in Gemini you may  find yourself multi-tasking and being pulled in multiple directions or into multiple conversations. Information and communication may be coming at you from many sources. The Gemini sign is twins.  There is a duality that occurs with this moon influence. You don't necessarily have to choose between intellect and imagination. You may find your perception shifting to incorporate very new ways of viewing the world and the information and communication you receive.

Then there's the whole eclipse side of things as well!  An eclipse is said to shake things loose and give us the sense of being at a crossroads, a time of change.  Eclipse's are said to be forceful tools to cause us to evolve and mature. They push us to strengthen any weakness we may have. We last had a lunar eclipse on June 15th. Eclipses are said to build on each other, so whatever was going on in your life in mid-June may come to a critical point or an end now. I went back to my posting on June 15th to see what I was focused on at that time http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.com/2011/06/bach-flowers-for-animals-in-transit.html Interesting... Mr Purple is now Louie.  He is old enough and has enough attitude to howl at the moon with me tomorrow. I guess I better listen to what he has to say! No doubt he wants to write his letter to Santa.

If you've been feeling a lot of emotions swirling around in your head and your heart, you may be feeling the effects of the universe! In this time of Gemini Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse, the Bach Flower essences that might be particularly helpful include Cerato, Scleranthus, Clematis, and Heather.

According to http://www.rainbowcrystal.com/, there may be a special connection between Gemini and the Bach Flower essence Cerato. Gemini's are eager to gather information and knowledge but can be uncertain in their own opinions. With so much information and communication being circulated under this moon influence, it may be hard to listen to your intuition, filter through the information and trust yourself.  Cerato can help you sort through the communication so you can trust yourself to take only what you need and act on it. The communication "floating out there under this moon" is broad, but not necessarily deep- for that you need go within and reflect and consider what is right for you.

Scleranthus has some similarities to Cerato and they are both categorized under uncertainty. That dual nature of the Gemini influence may cause you to flip back and forth between two ideas, tasks, thoughts, or actions. Scleranthus can help you find the integration between your logical mind and intuitive nature. Once you can integrate the communication coming at you , it may be a lot easier to choose your correct path and move forward through the lunar eclipse transformation.

In my opinion, Clematis is always helpful during the strong astrological influences of full moons and lunar eclipses. Clematis can help you remain grounded even when you feel "pulled away" to another dimension, to dreamland, to a world of infinite ideas. http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.com/2011/03/bringing-dreams-to-reality-with.html Clematis can help you connect your beliefs, and the information you are receiving with your daily routine and grounded action. It's hard to stay focused and concentrate both at this time of year and during heavy astrological influences and that's what Clematis can help with.  Clematis may be particularly helpful for children struggling with the school routine  in the last couple of weeks before Christmas break.

Although a difficult essence to self-diagnosis, Heather may be a Bach Flower to consider in the next few days. http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.com/2011/01/all-about-me-and-bach-flower-heather.html When in a Heather state people are very talkative. Perhaps this gets accentuated during the Gemini influence on communication. When in this state the preoccupation is with self. The person in a Heather state really needs an audience to describe in detail their latest symptoms, and problems.  They want to tell you everything that is going on in their lives. So much information can sap other people's vitality. With the focus on information and communication in the next few days, it may be important to remember that half of the communication process is listening. A few drops of Heather can enable you to be a good listener, able to help others because of your own experiences.

The full moon in any sign, is meant as a time of reflection. When the world is spinning so fast, and so much information is finding it's way to you, it may be that much more important to just slow down a bit and reflect. Shut off the information flow and go within. Gaze at the moon in all it's glory, honor it's place in the universe, recognize it's influence on you and honor yourself. And a howl or two can never hurt!!

Reindeer Bullies & Bach Flowers for Rudolph

There are lots of pretty lovable little characters floating around out their in holiday traditions. I really have a fondness for elves, but the characters that really grab my heart the most are probably the reindeer.  I love those guys. In real life they really seem to have kind of a scraggly, "bad boy and girl" image that I also like. I love the children's movies about reindeer and of course, there's always Rudolph, "the most famous reindeer of all".

First of all, let's be perfectly clear right off the bat.  All of the reindeer in Santa's team are females. Male reindeer loose their antlers during the summer months while females keep theirs. Everyone in Santa's team, in all the pictures, all the movies,  and all the stories has antlers in December; therefore they are all females. Maybe that's why so many people claim to have seen Santa's reindeer. It's likely they aren't afraid or too proud to stop and ask for directions if lost!

So.. Rudolph is a girl. And at least the first year she lead the team, the year that all the stories and songs highlight, she must have been pretty young- maybe a young teenage reindeer. So imagine a teenage girl, going out in front of all the other girls with this big red shinning thing on the end of her nose!  I imagine her mother heard the screaming: "Mom, you can't possibly expect me to be seen anywhere in public with this huge disfiguring thing at the end of my nose can you"! and , "Surely you don't expect me to get out of bed and go to reindeer school! I will NOT be seen in public until this thing goes away. I'll just text Santa and tell him he has to find someone else".

So I figure the real story lies behind the scenes, before Rudolph ever made it to the barn that night.  I think there must have been a very caring, smart, Wise Woman that helped Rudolph shine her light.  I think Rudolph's mother must have known about the benefits of Bach Flower essences.

I figure that this Wise Reindeer  gave Rudolph a few drops of the Bach Flower essence Crab Apple in her morning glass of apple juice. If she was really smart, she might have got it in there before Rudolph ever looked in the mirror and started to panic. Crab Apple would have helped Rudolph feel better about herself and her appearance. Maybe they even rubbed a little Crab Apple on her nose and realized in fact,  it wasn't a skin problem at all, but a gift of illumination.

I think the Wise Reindeer might also have suggested a few drops of Larch for Rudolph.  Even if Rudolph was starting to feel okay about herself and accepting of her gift, it must have taken a lot of courage and confidence to stand up against the reindeer gang of girls and take the lead.

At least that first year, Rudolph must have felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility.  I mean, there are a lot of people counting on Santa's sleigh making it through some pretty horrific and often changing weather conditions on a pretty tight schedule.  Maybe a few drops of Elm helped Rudolph feel capable and self-assured that she could do it. I think the Bach Flower Elm might also have helped Rudolph schedule in a few water. sweat feed, and carrot breaks for the team during the long night as well. It might have helped her realize that one has to take time to look after your own needs before you can be everything to everyone.

I'm not sure if Santa was fully aware of the issues going on with his team.  He kind of strikes me as being just a bit like a "shop teacher".  Likable enough for sure,very cool in the eyes of all the guys,  but a wee bit distracted with the power tools and  measurements and the urge to build the perfect widget or the thoughts of turbo boosting the sleigh.  I'm not sure he would have realized the sneaky things the mean girl reindeer might have been doing to Rudolph behind his back. 

But I bet, Mrs. Claus saw it all.  I figure she went out early in the morning and put a bit of Vine, Holly, and Beech  into the water buckets because "all the other reindeer used to laugh and call Rudolph names".  I'm pretty sure Mrs. Claus saw when "they never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games".  The Vine Bach flower might have toned down the bullying a bit. The Holly might have got to the real root of the problem: that the others were a bit jealous of Rudolph in the first place, and Beech could have helped everyone be a bit more tolerant of those they were harnessed up next to.

So I  figure Mrs. Claus and Wise Reindeer did a lot of very smart work before that sleigh ever lifted off the ground.  Once everyone was out of their site, I imagine they put a few drops of Red Chestnut and Mimulus into their own hot chocolate.  It must be a bit worrying to see those you love take off to parts unknown at warp speed. The Red Chestnut probably helps them let go of the worry and angst that the sleigh will crash or they will run into a obstacle, or not have the right toys, or be too proud to ask for those directions.  I also think some drops of Mimulus probably helps them get through the night.  I figure both Mrs. Claus and Wise Reindeer have "been there done that".  They understand the life of girls and the struggles it takes to get to be wise and knowing and supportive of each other.  I think Mimulus can help them release the fear that the girls just won't play well as a team.

So to Rudolph, all the girls in the team, and their Wise Woman backers, I say "You go girl"!!

Biophilia: Connecting with Nature

I came across the word "biophilia" twice in the past couple of days in totally unrelated places.  This is both a new word and new concept to me. Having never even heard of this before, when it comes to me in such an "in my face" way, I figure I better pay attention.

Biophilia is a term coined by Edward Wilson. He used it to describe what he called, " our innately emotional affiliation to living organisms". The definition has been expanded to include the natural landscape as well. Apparently after decades of scientific research, Wilson's theory holds true. We do, at a level we don't fully understand, need direct experience with nature. We need to feel a connection with nature in some way in order to feel healthy and happy. Hmm...

So then I got thinking about this time of year.  In my part of the world, we are experiencing quite an incredible fall/early winter. It has been unseasonably warm, we have had rain not snow ,except for one brief storm that brought out my mittens http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.com/2011/11/snow-suits-mittens.html, and it feels more like spring than winter. Perhaps it's because of the sunshine and warm temperatures that the short days and early darkness seems even more pronounced. For some people, these long days of darkness can signal Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.com/2011/05/treating-seasonal-affective-disorder.html. So that got me thinking....

Maybe it isn't the lack of sunlight we miss so much when the the the sunrise comes later and sunset comes earlier in the day.  Maybe it's Wilson's biophilia theory coming to light.

In our "modern lives", most people spent most of their working day inside, within climate controlled atmospheres. There isn't a lot of interaction with nature happening during the workday for many people. During the shorter days of winter many people drive to work in the dark and come home in the dark.  In my opinion adults are not generally as good at "being" as we are at "doing".  So when we spend time outside we often have to associate that time with a project.  In the summertime we do pretty good. We plant gardens, we tend to plants, we go swimming, or go for a walk, we sit in the sun talking to neighbours or reading a book, we cook outside on the barbecue.  All those are "projects"- things to accomplish while outside. Maybe we just wanted the "excuse" to go outside and connect in some way with nature.  During the summer, spring and early fall, we often can still "sneak in" some outside time either before or after work.  Definitely we "pencil it in" in for the weekend or days off.

But during the winter we loose the light. And that means we loose our "excuse" to get outside. We say that we hibernate indoors because of the cold. But I'm not sure I'm buying that reason these days.  I think it might be because in the absence of light, we're not sure what we could "do" out there.  We haven't really created any projects that we can do outside without sunlight. So we drive to work in the dark, come home with our headlights on. Walk through the garage, into the house, turn on the lights and sit in front of the T.V., or do some sort of inside "activity" until it's time to go to bed and get up and do it all over again. It's too dark to go outside. Hmm...

There aren't a lot of natural ways to increase the sunlight hours. At least not that I know of!  But maybe if we changed our thinking a bit we could find that we could have a nature connection even when it's darker earlier. Maybe we would find that if we spent the time outside, even in the dark, we wouldn't feel the same sense of sadness and depression that we associate with a lack of light. Certainly would be worth a try!

One activity that doesn't require sunlight is star gazing!  And the nighttime sky in the wintertime can be the most amazing of all.  In fact, in some parts of the world, the Northern Lights are amazing right now. This website can give you some great information about what's happening in the winter sky http://spaceweather.com/ Maybe you could put on your mittens and pull that lawn chair out of the garage and just sit out there and admire the darkness?

Today's photo is courtesy of Liz Corbett. She's a Professional Bowenwork Practitioner http://www.circleofinnerwisdom.ca/ , an amazing photographer, and, in my opinion, a Wise Woman. Thanks Liz!  Her pictures show her deep connection with, and understanding of , nature- perhaps her biophilia. Her photos aren't always taken in brilliant sunlight. Perhaps if you went outside with a camera either early in the morning or after work, you might find a "reason and an excuse" to have an "outdoor project". There have been some interesting photography courses initiated lately to bring children closer to nature in this way.

True connecting with nature isn't about "doing" anything.  It's about being.  If you are an adult, or a child brought up in the techno-age, you might have to get there gradually. At first you might need some creativity in order to find a way to "do" things outside in the early darkness. Although I think it might take less thought than it first seems. Ultimately, it's our mindset we need to change.  Maybe we just need to consider that we might need to be out there for a bit in order to feel healthy, happy and alive.

When I saw Liz's picture today, I wanted to just sit underneath that tree. I wanted to lean my back against the trunk, shut my eyes and listen and feel nature.  And I don't know about you, but when I close my eyes it's dark anyway! So it really doesn't matter whether it's sunrise, sunset or somewhere in between. It's about the connection to something much bigger than self. Maybe that's all we need to embrace the darkness of winter!

Book Review: SageWoman Magazine

A friend led me towards a great discovery this weekend when she gave me a copy of the magazine SageWoman.  Once again, I guess I'm a little behind in my discoveries as this issue (and the one featured on today's picture) is the 81st issue.  At 4 issues a year, that means they have been around for awhile! No wonder- this is quite a read!

First of all, this is not your glossy full -of -ads- type magazine. There isn't a single make-up or clothing ad unless you count amulets, animal totem jewelry and magic slippers within that category! This magazine feels really solid in your hands and is more article than ad. It feels like sitting down to read a book and I spent most of Sunday doing just that.  There is also amazing artwork throughout the magazine- all in black and white and somehow that makes it feel more enjoyable to me. I feel like I can really connect to the pictures and be a part of them rather than looking at some highly glossed, colorized picture that puts distance between the artist and the viewer.

Each magazine issue follows a theme and this latest issue is devoted to  "Weaving The Web". The articles cover just about everything imaginable from a Wise Woman, natural, "lived life the "interesting" (I like that better than hard) way" point of view. Each and every one will make you think. The writers are highly accomplished women with a wide variety of backgrounds including an eclectic mix of formal and informal education and experience. Many of them have masters degrees in topics such as psychology, Woman's Studies, and Spirituality. Some of the articles are written by professional writers and authors, some are written by beginning writers, but all of them write from the heart and from a wealth of experience and understanding. Reading the bios is as enlightening as the articles. This magazine has been developed from herbalists, shamanic artists, naturalists, Priestesses, mothers, animal lovers, healers and witches. The commonality among them all in my opinion, is that they are all Wise Woman. They all share a piece of their journey.

I learned things about spiders, sheep, birds, weaving, beach combing, being in nature, Tarot cards for women, creating a community, and following dreams.  Most of all I learned a little bit more about myself and I had fun doing it. I was inspired. When reading this magazine, I really felt like I was part of something bigger and wonderful. 

But you need to find out for yourself.  I'll be getting a subscription. As it turns out, this is a good time to support this magazine because they have had some setbacks due to the closure of Borders Bookstore. You can find out about subscribing and the magazine itself at http://www.sagewoman.com/ 

As I was reading through this magazine I also learned something about my friend. She didn't give me this magazine because it was something that she liked and thought I should experience. She doesn't have a subscription and figure I should have one too.  I think I may have been guilty of giving gifts for that reason- thinking this is something the other person doesn't have and should. I guess a lot of gifts are an attempt to fill what we consider a gap or hole in the other person, or at least we want them to experience a part of what we have discovered, to understand us through our gift. But she gave me SageWoman because she knew I would appreciate it. She knew it was "my thing" and not necessarily "her thing". It wasn't given so that I might understand her better. She was really "honoring me" through her gift. She didn't see it as something to fill the "hole" but something that was part of my "whole".  That may be the true art of Wise Woman giving and the very essence of friendship.

Cinderella meets Cowboy Boots and Text Messaging

Remember the Cinderella Cowboy Boots post from awhile ago? It's back... Pour a coffee, or better yet, a glass of wine, and get settled in for a long read, because here's the manuscript.  Since I can't figure out what format or publisher might actually be appropriate for this- viola- here it is.

If Cinderella Wore Cowboy Boots...

By Heather MacKenzie-Carey

Cinderella scooped mouse poop, added fresh shavings to the floor of the cages and poured clean water into all the containers. She was getting tired of cleaning all the cages for her step-sisters pets. The sisters didn’t even appreciate the poor little creatures- barely even looked at them and never talked to them. But then they didn’t talk to Cinderella either unless it was to tell her what to do. Cinderella felt a bit like a mouse herself. She was trapped in a cage, surrounded by poop, spinning around and around on a wheel going nowhere.  Cinderella’s life was a mess.  But, all that was about to change. Cinderella had a secret.

When Cinderella was five years old, her mother died. A year later, her father re-married. That’s when everything went bad for Cinderella. Her stepmother moved in with her two horrible step-daughters and they made Cinderella’s life miserable.  They all treated her like a servant.  Since her father was away most of the time on business trips, he had no idea that Cinderella was being bullied so badly. He believed all his new wife’s lies. He said Cinderella was “exaggerating the truth” any time she tried to explain how lousy her life was. He was in pretty heavy denial.  Only Cinderella and her mother’s best friend knew about the secret.

When her mother was dying, she gave her best friend a package for Cinderella. She instructed her friend to give the package to Cinderella when the friend thought the timing was right. Last month, on her 16^th birthday, the friend gave it to Cinderella.  In it was the favourite bedtime storybook her mother read to Cinderella every night, a T-shirt that still smelled like her mother, and an emergency life-line phone. The phone came with hand-written instructions from her mother. She explained that it was for one-use only. It would connect Cinderella to a Fairy Godmother. The Fairy Godmother could get Cinderella out of a jam. Cinderella was about to use her lifeline.

A you-tube video call had gone viral. Justice, the greatest rap star ever, was looking for back-up singers in an open casting call. The open invitation was all over Twitter, Facebook and MySpace. It was all anyone was talking about.  The news media was calling it the “modern day Woodstock”.

Cinderella wanted to audition. She knew if she got picked she could travel all over the world with Justice and be out of her step-mother’s house. She would never have to clean cages again. Everyone knew that it really wasn’t singers he was looking for. He was searching for “a look”.  A lot of people said Cinderella had just the look he wanted.  She knew she had a pretty good chance. The problem was, her step-mother wouldn’t let her go.

The step-sisters were going to the audition. Their mother had taken them to the mall where they bought fancy new dresses and shoes. They had manicures and pedicures and facials. They had been getting ready for weeks. The day of the event the pace was crazy. The whole house was in turmoil. A hair stylist had been in and gave them fancy up-dos.  A make-up artist was now trying to give them “the look”. Cinderella had been sent out to buy toilet paper and cotton balls.  She thought the toilet paper was appropriate to the occasion.

Cinderella called her father’s cell phone to complain, and to get permission to go. He was in a meeting and transferred her phone call to voice mail.  He sent a text to Cinderella telling her that her Step-mother was in charge when he wasn’t there and she needed to clear any events through her. He said he’d work things out when he got home. Cinderella had heard that before.

Cinderella put on her mother’s T-shirt and inhaled the wonderful smell. She picked up the emergency phone and placed the call according to the instructions her mother had written. Suddenly a Fairy Godmother appeared.  If Cinderella had known she was actually going to appear, she might have cleaned up her room, but the Fairy Godmother didn’t seem to notice the dirty clothes, and stacks of books. Cinderella discreetly nudged the mostly empty yogurt container under the bed. The Fairy Godmother looked just like they do in story books and movies. A little old-fashioned, but Cinderella figured she could work with her for sure.

The Fairy Godmother started taking over. “Honey, I’ve been doing this story for so many generations, I know it by heart. We’ll get you a fancy ball-gown and a coachman with white horses.  I’ll just need a pumpkin to start out with. We can use your sister’s mice to transform into the horses. I’ll bring in the magical glass slippers and you’ll be ready to go.  I find Cinderella’s are always beautiful and you’re no exception. This is one of my easiest gigs.” The Fairy Godmother pulled a sparkling wand from a pocket and turned it on. While she was waiting for it to charge up, she started to explain the story.

“You’ll go to the event and no one will even recognize you. Justice will love you and pick you from all those that audition. You’ll have to run out of there by midnight because the spell only last till then. You’ll likely dilly daddle and be late so you’ll have to run. On the way out, you’ll lose one of your shoes. Justice will come running after you and will find your shoe. He’ll come looking for you the next day. The shoe won’t fit anyone else but you, although everyone else will try to make it fit. He’ll put the shoe on your foot and “the rest is history”. You’ll marry him and live happily ever after. Now, let’s choose your gown...”

“Wait a minute,” said Cinderella. “I’d like to make a small change or two to my story if that’s okay?”

“A change,” asked the Fairy Godmother?  She stopped her wand in mid-flight. “No one has ever changed the Cinderella story before. What are you thinking of?”

“Well, instead of a gown, I’d like something that is “wearable” and comfortable. I’m thinking maybe leggings or jeans- I’m not much of a dress person.”

“That’s not a problem,” said the Fairy Godmother. “It’s unusual and most definitely not my style, but wardrobe changes aren’t really a big deal”. She waved the wand and Cinderella was wearing a very fashionable but workable outfit out of breathable fabric.  Cinderella danced a bit and held her hairbrush to her mouth while she looked in the mirror to try it out.

“Perfect,” Cinderella said. “I don’t want a fancy up-do or a lot of make-up,” she said as she saw the wand being pointed towards her again. “I’d like the natural look”.

“Kids these days. Styles have certainly changed,” said the Fairy Godmother. “I must say, I prefer the elaborate costumes, but at least you are very low maintenance. I’ve had some real divas in my day”. The Fairy Godmother waved her wand and Cinderella had just a touch of make-up and her hair was shinny and flowing with just the right amount of swing to make it look like she had just got out of bed. The pimples that had been lingering on her chin and forehead were gone.

“Okay, you go get a pumpkin and I’ll get the mice,” said the Fairy Godmother. “Let’s get some real magic going here.  It doesn’t feel like I’ve been doing anything with you looking like that!”

“About the coach...” said Cinderella?  She figured she better approach this change pretty cautiously. She didn’t want to insult her Fairy Godmother but it was her story and she needed it to be right.

The Fairy Godmother already had her hand on the doorknob of Cinderella room. She turned around to look over her shoulder. Cinderella figured by the set of her mouth, the Fairy Godmother had already suspected this change was coming. “I’m listening,” was all the Fairy Godmother said, but she turned around and made sure the door was tightly closed.

“I’m actually a pretty good horse back rider and I’ve always wanted my own horse. I was wondering if I could have a strong black horse instead of the team of white ones. I really don’t need a coachman. I’d rather just ride the horse bareback, all on my own. “Once she started explaining, Cinderella figured she might as well let it all out. “And, I’d like to switch those glass slippers for a pair of really awesome cowboy boots”, Cinderella said.

“Cowboy boots!!!” Her Fairy Godmother screamed and turned a bit white at the same time. She grabbed onto Cinderella’s desk for support and felt blindly for the chair which she collapsed into. “That has never been done. I’d have to check with the over-seeing committee on that one.” Cinderella figured it was best not to say or do anything at this point. She watched as the Fairy Godmother pulled a cell-phone out of another pocket and started texting.

To:  Fairy Godmother Overseeing Committee (FGOC)

From: Fairy Godmother (FG)

Cindy wnts MAJOR changes to wardrobe and props. No coachman, 1 horse only will ride barebck. No glass slippers. Wnts cowboy boots. Can these changes be approved???? Sorry for the unusual request. This Cindy is very different!!!!!!

The Fairy Godmother pressed SEND. While they waited Cinderella pleaded her case. It’s really just a small change, said Cinderella. Cowboy boots are a little more practical than glass slippers. I’m not very good with high heels. My ankles are a bit wobbly in them. And I think boots would look very appropriate with this outfit- more my style.

The Fairy Godmother seemed to be considering the outfit.  Her cheeks were back to the ruby color they had been before and she seemed composed again. Just as it looked like she was going to say something her cell phone binged an incoming text. Cinderella read over Fairy Godmother’s shoulder.

To:  Fairy Godmother (FG)

From: Fairy Godmother Overseeing Committee (FGOC)

CC: Script Writers Union (SWU)

Wardrobe changes acceptable, x-change of coachman for horse ok, do u really mean cowboy boots instead of glass slippers????? Please confirm. SWU approve as well- these changes are highly irregular!!!!

Wow, now the union is involved said the Fairy Godmother. That’s a pretty big deal. Let’s think about how we want to phrase this. The Fairy Godmother smiled at Cinderella. She was definitely understanding and on Cinderella’s side now. Together they sent the following

Reply All:

From: Fairy Godmother(FG)

Yes, cowboy boots wnted, no slippers... heels a problem...

The Fairy Godmother smiled at Cinderella.  “Now there’s nothing we can do but wait,” she said. “You could always spend the time cleaning your room.”

Cinderella moved impatiently around the room rearranging stacks of mess from one pile to another. The Fairy Godmother moved around the room looking for better cell phone coverage. Finally she opened the window and held the phone out.  When that still didn’t bring a quicker reply she waved the wand around a bit and a pile of clothes became neatly folded. The yogurt container turned into a bar of white chocolate which they split between the two of them.

Finally they heard the bing. The Fairy Godmother held the phone between them while she pressed RECIEVE.

From:  Fairy Godmother  Overseeing Committee (FGOC)

To: Fairy Godmother(FG)

CC: Script Writers Union (SWU)

On conference call with SWU. Here’s the deal FG. Cindy can hve boots, horse and wardrobe change. Curfew stays at 12. GPS on lifeline phone will track and transform spell components at 12. SWU approves.

Luckily Cinderella’s step-mother had already packed the stepsisters and their hair into the SUV to get them to the audition. All the make-artists and designers had left. Standing calmly on the front lawn, eating the clematis was a huge black Friesian. Her curly mane glistened and her luxurious tail twitched at the occasional black fly.

“She’s beautiful”, whispered Cinderella. “I’ll call her Freedom”.

“Looks a bit big,” said her Fairy Godmother who maintained a respectable distance from the huge feet while Cinderella gently stroked the Frisian and asked permission to ride her.

Cinderella instructed a reluctant Fairy Godmother on how to give her a leg up so could mount Freedom.

Once Cinderella was comfortably mounted and balanced, her Fairy Godmother passed her the life-line phone. “Remember Cindy, this phone has GPS tracking in it. At midnight the committee will send a signal to it and all your magic disappears. You go back to Cinderella the mouse maid again”.

Cinderella put the phone in her boot and smiled. She had a plan. “No problem, and thanks for everything,” she said as she leaned down to hug her Fairy Godmother. A little pressure with her legs and Freedom and Cinderella were off to the audition.

Cinderella found a nice path of grass on the theatre lawn for Freedom to munch on and she slid off her back. No one seemed to even notice the girl and the horse in all the frenzy of the limos, the red carpet and the paparazzi. Cinderella figured there might be some kind of cloak of invisibility spell around Freedom.

Cinderella sailed through the intake questionnaire and the first series of interviews. She dodged her step-sisters, but by the time they got to the first round of auditions they were already out of the competition and partying with the roadies.  Everything was running late and Cinderella nervously checked the time on her life phone. She set an alarm and placed the phone back in her boot.

Cinderella hid behind the curtains back stage to avoid step sister detection while she waited for her final call.  She was finding Justin more than a little nauseating as he sat in the big chair shouting at people while attendants fawned and fussed over him.  Cinderella really didn’t understand the attraction.

One of the stage hands admired Cinderella’s boots. The two of them got in quite a conversation while Cinderella waited. Turns out the stage hand was a cousin of Justin’s and had rather the same opinion of him that Cinderella did.  They both agreed that Justin was pretty silly and cowboy boots and horses were much more important than fame. The stage hand had another cousin that ran a dude ranch well outside the city limits. He told Cinderella his cousin was always looking for help on the ranch. Cinderella put the contact information into her life phone. She Google mapped the address and saved it.

Cinderella was standing in the middle of the stage, staring down at Justin and performing when her boot started to vibrate the alarm she had programmed.  At the same moment one of the step sisters screamed as she recognized Cinderella. Cinderella used the diversion to run. The alarm meant she had 5 minutes before the spell was lost and she didn’t intend to waste any of it.  She bolted from the stage, ran past the astonished media and flew down the front steps.

She realized this was the part where the glass slipper was supposed to come off leaving a marker so the fairy tale could come to a happy ending.  But everyone knows that once a good pair of cowboy boots is on your feet they aren’t coming off without a lot of tugging and effort. Cinderella’s boots stayed on her feet.

As luck, or magic, would have it, just as Cinderella reached Freedom, the huge horse gently lowered her head and front hooves in a bow enabling Cinderella to swing her legs over her back and mount up. As soon as Cinderella was balanced, Freedom took off at a gallop listening to the whispered instructions Cinderella gave her as she leaned close over her mane, hugging her legs to Freedom’s body, trusting her with every ounce of her being. 

Perhaps they did actually fly. Magic has a way of being unpredictable. However they did it, by the time the overseeing committee was connecting the signal to the GPS in the life line, Freedom, Cinderella and her cowboy boots were all out of signal range.

And that’s how Cinderella changed the story line.  She made it to the dude ranch with Freedom.  They were both hired “on the spot”. Within a few months Cinderella became the head horse trainer and Freedom helps her out with that.

The step-sisters did make it as part of Justin’s posse.  The fact that they knew the girl that ran off gave them some celebrity status with the tabloids and they have a following now that Justin appreciates.

Now that all her daughters have left home and are making their own way in the world, Cinderella’s step-mother seems a bit more gentle and Cinderella’s father is home more. He calls Cinderella a lot and they spend time together.  The mice have been released to the wild.

Occasionally Cinderella’s step-sisters come to visit her at the ranch. It’s good for their reality T.V. show. Cinderella has taught them how to clean out stalls.

To: Fairy Godmother Overseeing Committee (FGOC)

From: Fairy Godmother (FG)

Cindy sends me encrypted texts. She is very happy!!!!! Maybe we should look at revising the Little Red Riding Hood story??????

Beyond Imagaination

It seems as we get closer and closer to the beginning of 2012 the speed of everything is ramped up. People continue to have to face issues at warp speed and it really does feel as though "change is in the air". That kind of change and shifting prompts the imagination and encourages us to speculate I guess.

I've had lots of conversations lately about what "might be coming", how the world "might look" and what the future may hold. It seems to me that people really believe in one of two theories. They either hold to the idea that the world is about to end in some doomsday scenario, or they think the world is about to change in wonderful transformed ways. Not many people that I've encountered, believe the "status quo" is going to continue.  Maybe people have always felt this way. Maybe it's something new.  It certainly seems to fuel the imagination and be a hot topic of conversation and debate.

But in my opinion, if we can imagine "it", then it's not accurate. I think that if you can imagine something it's already happened to some degree and you're developing a variation of events to create something slightly different. But I believe true transformation, and I happen to believe all transformation is good, is beyond our imagination.

Today's picture is Doreen Virtue's http://www.angeltherapy.comgoddess/ Guidance Card of the Goddess Kali. Virtue describes Kali as the "get things down" goddess.  Kali doesn't fool around with a little bit of tweaking here and there. She releases the old through natural storms, fires, and extreme events. She is a powerful, often feared goddess in Hindu tradition. Virtue writes that Kali will "push you beyond your comfort zone to reach the heights of your potential".

That sounds like "beyond your imagination" to me, and I like that. I think perhaps the world is feeling Kali a bit these days. Kali is all about change. Change can seem chaotic if you don't have faith and trust. Change can BE chaotic if you don't have faith and trust and if you're swimming against the current and trying too hard. http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.com/2011/11/animal-signs-seal.html Kali is all about releasing the old, really releasing the old, not creating new versions of the "same old, same old". Once the old is released, we experience rebirth. We will go "beyond our imaginations".

I guess when Kali is exerting her influence, the world could use a bit of the Bach Flowers and support. Cerato, Aspen, Chestnut Bud and the Perelandra essence ETS Plus all come to mind.

Cerato is the essence that might help you find the "faith and trust". http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.com/2010/12/best-advice-your-inner-knowing.html It can be buried pretty deep and the more caught up you get in the chaos factor, the more hidden that trust can be. Cerato might help you step out of the chaos and admire the view as you travel beyond your fear and imagination.

Aspen might help if you feel the influence of something not quite tangible. http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.com/2011/03/coping-with-fear-alternative-remedies.html Perhaps that "something" is the fear and worry that Kali can bring if you're not centered in your place of trust. If you're picking up the fears and worries of others in what can be chaotic times, Aspen might help with this as well.

Perhaps it's Chestnut Bud that we need to go beyond our imagination. http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.com/2011/11/chestnut-bud-for-repetitive-mistakes.html Chestnut Bud is indicated when you aren't learning from experience and therefore keep repeating the same mistakes. Sometimes our "imaginings" are taking us back, not moving us forward. It's hard to see it that way. We think we're moving forward even when we imagine times when we thought life was more peaceful and try to re-create that. This might even explain some of the "back to the land" principles. But maybe a few drops of Chestnut Bud would reveal that isn't truly moving forward as much as it's trying to escape the chaos.  

Perelandra ETS Plus may help move beyond. It can help you adjust and repair those electrical currents that might need some fine tuning as Kali does her rearranging and releasing. In my opinion, the Perelandra essences really do go "beyond the imagination" and may be just the support you need. http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.com/2010/10/kinesiologymuscle-testing.html

When you truly go beyond your imagination, you don't know what you're going to need. That's the point. You can't really prepare, pack a bag, or get a kit together. That's preparedness and survival theory. To do that you prepare what you have needed in the past, or read that others needed, or researched, as being helpful, or think you might need in the future. All those things will help if as a collective we repeat the past mistakes again.  But, if we're really going beyond that you don't need anything except what you have inside you- faith and trust. No backpacks, no overhead luggage, no suitcases, no survival kits.  It's all about traveling light. Hmm...

To imagination and beyond!