wordless Wednesday

she's got passion in her plant and she's not afraid to show it

                                                                                                  ©Debbie Friedrich

This red passion flower vine  has naturally taken itself 12 months to produce such a gorgeous display. 

Just for a moment, take it all in and let your eyes feast on the colors, the textures, the lines, that SQUIGGLE! 

I am so thankful for these treasures in nature that continually teach me about my own self.

This discovery taught me:

Trust in divine timing

Support is needed for growth

A multitude of gifts can come from one seed

I have a desire to dance to LMFAO

Peace, death and a strawberry shake

Yesterday morning I woke up at 8am with an overwhelming sense of peace. It was a feeling like everything is just right. Right at that very moment, every little thing was ok. I didn't have to rush to make anyone breakfast, or get my lovebuckets up and out of bed for school or work. 


I got up, let my dog outside, prepared his food and poured myself a cup of coffee. He ate quickly then ran to my oldest daughter's room, jumped on her bed and greeted her with kisses. She started to tell me about a dream she had so I snuggled in bed with her to warm up and fully listen. We interpreted her dream until we were satisfied with the reasoning of the subconscious. We both got up to start our day - she got in the shower, I grabbed my iPad and was still cold so decided to read my daily news feed and check emails under the covers of my own bed. 


That feeling of peace was still lounging in my heart. I put down my morning reading, opened the drapes behind my bed and gazed at the young Hong Kong Orchid tree we've been nurturing. 

My mind starts to question this overwhelming sense of peace this morning. I am learning to let go of questioning during the quiet and just listen. I closed my eyes and listened for a few minutes then I wondered what does my peaceful self look like? So I took a self portrait:

I smiled at my peaceful portrait and got up to carry this feeling throughout my day. I plugged my phone in to be charged, walked into my studio and started working. After a while I went to check my phone and saw I had missed calls and text messages. They were messages of my dear Aunt Rita's death. She left her body behind at 7am that morning. She was one hell of a courageous woman. Her body fought with the painfully dreadful disease of scleroderma for over 20 years.

Now, her soul knows only peace. 

She was an amazing artist and always fully supported my own art ventures. She knew I loved the paintings of Georgia O'Keefe so she bought Georgia's autobiography for me to learn about the woman behind the art. When I was 12, my Aunt Rita walked me out the front door of her home in the Bay Area and pointed to a mountain ridge - Mt. Tamalpais, also known as the Sleeping Maiden. At 12 years old, right before my family moved from the only home I knew to out of state and into the unknown - she showed me a new way to see and look toward the mountain tops. I never forgot that. 

My Aunt Rita is actually my "Great" Aunt. She is my Grandmother's sister. They lived just two miles apart and were so very close. My Grandmother was her sister, her best friend, confidant and as the years went by she became her care giver. A few weeks ago I had the most valuable time of spending a day with my Grandmother. Just her and I talking story. One of my favorite stories she shared with me was of my Aunt Rita's last outing. 

My Grandmother decided, then demanded her sister needed to get outside. Aunt Rita was so frail at 90 lbs, she just never had the energy nor the will to go out anymore. My Grandmother helped her get ready, bundled her up and said they were going out for a drive. They drove around the hills of their neighborhood in Nipomo. Two sisters in a beautiful white Cadillac - cruising the 'hood. 

They ended up at McDonald's because my Grandmother felt her sister needed a shake. A strawberry shake. And everyone knows, you can't have a shake without some fries. So the two sisters got their shakes, a small fry and headed home for a picnic in the sun. My Grandfather dusted off chairs and assembled them in the patio. When the sisters got home, they made their way to the patio and had their picnic. The sun warmed Aunt Rita's back while she enjoyed her last strawberry shake with her sister. 

I was so touched by this story. The simplicity of joy from an afternoon drive and a strawberry shake in the sun. I shared this story with my youngest daughter yesterday after we heard the news of Aunt Rita's passing. Later that afternoon she came home with two strawberry shakes. It brought me to tears.

We sat in the sun and toasted to Aunt Rita, sisterhood, love and life. Live fully, love fully.

Thank you Aunt Rita, for everything. We love you.

Wordless Wednesday

                                                                                                   ©Debbie Friedrich

weeds beneath my wings

Today on this lovely blue sky, bird chirping Spring Equinox Day I did something dirty. I pulled weeds. I think people were waiting to see what kind of vibrantly juicy gift I was going to find in nature today but the only thing I found were snails and a lime green inch worm. 

The last time I pulled weeds was sometime last year after a phone conversation with my mother-in-law (whom I truly adore). The phone conversation went like this:


me: "hi mom, just checking in about dinner tomorrow night - wait are you ok? You sound winded."


her: "I've been pulling weeds for the past 4 hours"


me: "oh wow. Brian's been working outside all day too - mowing, raking, sweeping" 
and then I said ... "I only like to do the pretty things outside, like photograph" 


nervous laughter on my part and I ended the phone call. 


It was one of those moments were you can almost SEE your words come spilling out in slow motion and try to SUCK them back in. I felt bad.


I realized there was only one thing to do - PULL WEEDS!  

I have a little walkway beside my coveted studio that was abundant with weeds so I got to pullin'. I pulled a few and saw that I left a stub in the ground so I had to get in there and dig it out. After a few more tries, I would pull and get the WHOLE root. That felt good the way it came up from the Earth ROOT and ALL. I could smell the earthy ground and hear the birds cheering me on.

Be gone weeds. You're blocking my path.

 As I was pulling the weeds and  clearing the path I had a total ah-ha moment. I realized I was making room for new growth, new beginnings, a new story. I got to those roots. The roots of pain and self suffering. I let go. I worked at it and healed. I made new beginnings and living in them. I am telling a new story. 

I can see my path. 

I pulled weeds that day until the sun went down. After I was done, I called my mother-in-law to let her know that I appreciate all the time she spends in her garden. The gorgeous flowers she grows, the vegetables she shares with us, the special yellow tomatoes she grows only for me and all the love she cultivates. I am thankful. We are thankful.


I felt today would be a good day to pull those weeds along my path again as Spring is a great time to declutter, reorganize and weed out what no longer serves you. Having my epiphany while pulling weeds was great but there's always maintenance. 

Working inside the studio and on the computer all time - it felt so good to get outside again and put my hands in the Earth, get dirty and get clear. I stopped all the mind chatter to just listen and reconnect. Just what the soul needed!

Wishing you all clarity and time to get your own hands dirty.

Happy Spring!! 

listen

Sometimes there are no words. I just listen.

butterfly ascension

Mother Nature always calls me outside. I am fortunate to be nestled amongst trees, greenery, beautiful growth and all kinds of nature. I keep a camera near by at all times to capture the gifts she brings so I can share them with you.

The other day this beauty came fluttering by

There were actually two butterflies but this one stayed to be photographed and teach me a lesson. 

As I got closer I realized her wings were a bit torn and frayed. Scarred. She may have struggled to come out of her safe cocoon and show the world her transformed self and she has the scars to show it but this does not stop her. She still flutters happily amongst the jasmine, drinking the nectar. Living. 

The memory of her struggles does not weigh her down. It makes her stronger. She is even more beautiful with her character and her uniqueness. Her determination is noticed and her strength becomes mine. Her work amongst the jasmine is done.

and she ascends.

Open your hand and share your gifts

Keeping your God given gifts to yourself is like walking around with a fist full of seeds.

The gifts you have bring the vibrant to the colorful world we live in. 

Open your hand

I know it's easy to say just do it - share that painting, sing that song, write that story, beat that drum - what ever gift you have that is sitting in your heart - 

it's ready to be shared now. 

Your gift will touch someone in some way and that makes a spark. A spark of light for the viewer, listener or reader to acknowledge and feel joy. Joy from YOU and your gift.

A spark for permission for them to do the same. 

What gifts are you waiting to share?

Do you love yourself?

I'm working on the next Joyful workshop scheduled for February 12th. It's strategically planned right before Valentine's day! This workshop has a theme of "self love". We can dish it out but are we really feeling it for ourselves?


A few years ago a dear friend asked me the question: "Do you love yourself?" At first I thought uh.. yeah! After I fully allowed the question to percolate a bit more, I could not really answer that question. I had some blocks, some healing to do though I really wasn't aware. I was just chugging along in life not realizing I wasn't fully receiving and feeling love for my own self. Until that question was asked.


A few things that blocked my self love:


not being able to forgive


being too hard on myself


self doubt


fear


Working on my own self by taking workshops, life classes and soulful retreats cracked my shell wide open. Implementing the tools I learned and infusing them into my daily life healed my heart. 


The moment I realized I was blocking my OWN love was a grand pivot for my soul! 


Remove blocks to fully feel the love and joy flowing within.


I have to admit, this leaves me feeling a bit vulnerable. I meditated on this subject of vulnerability and realized it's ok. It will be ok. I cleared my path, I can see it. The only thing standing in my way would be my own self. Love keeps me walking, talking and sharing. That and amazing support from friends and family. They may not fully understand what it is I'm doing but because I love what I'm doing - they support me. Now it's YOUR turn, let's support you on your own joyful journey.


In the Joyful workshops, attendees receive their own "treasure box" which we fill with wonderful items to support the joyful journey. The first thing you'll see inside your own treasure box - YOU. You are the key to your happiness, your self love. It all begins within!

you are the key to your own joy and love

If you are in Southern California, I invite you to a soulful retreat nestled in nature at the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens. Come feel supported, loved and reignite the Joy that is within you.


Let your heart and soul be nurtured in the class and in nature. You can register for the workshops here : http://www.zenatona.com/cat-3A.html


Teenagers are welcome too! Let's learn to love together.

patience

I was rushing to meet a friend at the park for a walk. I rushed to get to my destination. I quickly got out of my car. I quick grabbed my water bottle, stepped out of the car and saw this:

And then I heard ... "patience". 


"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished"
Lao Tzu

shine on!

My kitchen window faces East and I am so blessed with a sunrise view! Yesterday, Mother Nature painted this picture:

I KNOW! Amazing right?

All kinds of wonderful was swirling through my head like a refreshing raspberry orange sorbet. Such a deliciously fresh start to my day. Then, within minutes it changed. The sun fully rose and my gratitude set.

This morning. I look out the window and dear Mother Nature painted this:

I KNOW!

It was like the Universe was saying - GO. Seize your day. So I want to share that with you. Follow your heart and walk through any doors of opportunity. Give yourself permission. Your scene may change, but behind all the clouds, there will always be a sun. 

Shine on!

Wordless Wednesday

the time is ripe now

The seeds were planted, nature took course and look what was produced!

What gift do you have for the world?

I feel that we're living in a purpose-driven world. More and more I'm hearing of wonderful ideas people have in using their gifts and talents to help others. Whether it's through writing, art, service or communicating - people want to give and make the world a better place.

I know, it can be scary moving forward and implementing your ideas, your dreams or that special project. I completely understand. It's easy to get caught up with self doubts, what ifs and "what will they think!?" Guess what?  

The time is now. 

Reach for the raspberry!

And keep in mind, the raspberry didn't evolve all by itself. It needed the sun for growth, the rain for nurturing, the gardener for pruning and it's vine for support. It went through it's nurturing and growth, weathering the elements to bring you one heck of a delicious piece of nature's candy. That is it's purpose. 

If you are unsure of what your purpose is or how you can use your gifts and talents to make the world a better place - just ask! Most people ask "What is my purpose?" try instead:

How can I serve?

Ask when you have time to yourself. Time to really listen for the answer. Turn away from the phones, computers, televisions and tune in to nature and your own internal wisdom. Your heart will lead the way, just be sure to follow it. I've learned that if it's in alignment with your true purpose - everything will fall into place. You'll start to experience small miracles and synchronicities. Take those as your signs that you are on the right path!

The ground will rise to meet you! This I know. You can even use my personal mantra if you need to:

"When I am consistently authentic, I am whole."

That always helps keep me on track!

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

With joy & gratitude,

Deb

I finally found my voice

If I could sum up 2011 for myself in 5 words: 

I finally found my voice

In 2011 I realized that I may not sing as beautifully as Adele but I sure can use my voice. I found my voice and I'm using it to spread JOY! I listened to my dreams, my intuition and with the support of my "tribe" I held the first workshop on 11-11-11 at 11am in the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens. Eight beautiful women gathered together to receive soulful support of living a more joyous life.

I called it a Backyard Sabbatical ~ you don't have to go far to rediscover your inner peace and joy. Guests received their own treasure boxes labeled "you matter" and inside tools for their continued support for happiness, growth and reflection.

Items included:

a permission slip for allowing ourselves to do whatever it is that we've been putting off. You know you're the change in the world but sometimes you may feel you need permission to take the first step. 

bloomies for answering the questions "what do I want?" and "what brings me joy?"

choosing a gem stone for support

a piece of bark from a tree for the reminder of letting go of what no longer serves us

a candle to light as a reminder that the light always shines from within. You are the light.

And other unexpected surprises!

We talked, shared, met new friends and most importantly - we rediscovered we are the key to our own happiness. 

After the workshop I led the group through a mindful walk in the labyrinth.

I have this love and light inside of me that shines through sharing with others. This makes me happy. This makes me whole.

Thank you for taking the time to read this :)

With joy & gratitude,

Deb