BEAUTY
Something a little different this month: photographs that are a bit more artsy, inspired by hanging with my friend, mixed-media artist, Alise Sheehan. Check out her work on Instagram. Full moon week, I traveled to San Diego for an art playdate with Alise. I am in awe of her ceaseless imagination and her iterative art making process. My brain doesn’t work that way, but it sure is fun watching her! We collaged, painted, made ceramic pieces and played with photographing through glass and water. It felt liberating to see in a more painterly way. Creativity and imagination flourishes in community, even a community of two. Click on any photo for gallery view.
WISDOM
August saw my first travels since 2023 and my December surgery. Before my San Diego trip, I traveled to Seattle, Bainbridge Island specifically, to take part in the soft launch of Lichen Health The Holistic Healing Network. It was a terrific lesson in not grasping at outcomes, because the energy was chaotic, causing all of us to shift and change, from the moment we arrived until we left. And, it was still a terrific event in the sense that I made great connections, and practiced holding space with a wonderful group of practitioners of bodywork, akashic record reading, expressive art therapy, plant medicine journeys, equine therapy, ancestral healing, and a rescuer of captive whales. Well meaning, open hearted, high-spirited individuals, everyone. I’m not sure of next steps, as I am but a small spark in the vast multifaceted vision of Lichen’s founder, and… I trust that it shall all be revealed in due time.
My mantra right now is “be available for what shows up.”
September is full to the brim with events that have me both excited and anxious. I’m finding it challenging right now to slow down, stay in the present moment, to move out of my thinking mind and into my heart. Which is really rich, given that everything on my calendar requires still, heartfelt presence… all, while inviting others into that same space. My monkey mind waking up at 4am has become the norm recently in what I call the “worry hour.” In Internal Family System (IFS) terms its when parts of me rise up and battle for attention: the doubting, critical, needy, perfectionist parts, the confident “you got this” part… (notice 4 negative and 1 positive part?)… and then an aha moment when my capital-S Self reminds me to make my offerings from a place of love. That seems to quiet my parts, at least for a while. A few years ago upon entering a labyrinth walk my question was, “why am I feeling blocked and fearful around my own worth?” When I reached the center, I heard, “put love first.” You can be sure I took that to my spiritual director for some processing! Hmmmm… I will amend my mantra now to: “be available, with love, for what shows up.“
ALCHEMY
Wish me well with these offerings:
Sept 1 – Leading a contemplative seeing/visio-divina practice @CCC Tiburon
Sept 7 – Holding a Beauty-as-Medicine 3-hour workshop of visual, walking, and writing meditation practices @CCC Tiburon
Sept 8 – Hosting the monthly in-person Death Café @Sonoma Ashram
Sept 11-18 – a week in Colorado, during which I’ll officiate the wedding of my great niece Gabby, and her beloved Brad, on Sept 14
Sept 21 – Celebrating my dear friend, Michael Eller’s 75th birthday
Sept 29 – Leading the Contemplative Arts Service @FCC Fairfax
Thanks to everyone who signed up this past month to receive my blog, and to everyone who signed up for my Beauty-as-Medicine workshop!!! I love hearing from you, and look forward to seeing you!
Also, if you need a spiritual guide, I have space on my calendar and in my heart for a few more clients, and/or a small group.
Peace, love and blessings,
Rev. Lisa
Spiritual Companion/Guide
Contemplative Photographer
Interfaith Chaplain/Eco-Minister
Free Photos at Pexels
Spirit-Infused Healing Photography Books at Blurb
Photography is my love language. Teaching people to see Beauty-as-Medicine is my ministry. – Rev. Lisa