Re-TREAT with Goddess Leslie

     

We gave ourselves permission.  We took the time to nurture our Inner Children.  We planned a 48 hour reTREAT.  We wrote down a list of things we wanted to accomplish, PLAY, do.  We put in some exercise, yummy food, and of course ART time.  No husbands, no response-abilities.  Just our list, ourselves and doggess-goddess Mandy.

Goddess Leslie picked me up from Laughter Yoga at the Senior Center on Tuesday and we headed for the BEACH.  We dipped and swam and detoxed from the top of our heads down to our feet.  And then we sat on the steps of a walkway and dried off.  We talked and then were silent.  Such a comfortable space to be together.

Goddess Leslie's husband is out of town - we have the house to ourselves - we opened up windows and turned the Air Conditioning off.    We prepped our space with candles & music. We made some Hibiscus Iced Tea a/k/a Karkade.  

We nurtured our bodies with some yummy food.  Using a base of lettuce, red cabbage and carrots, we added apples, lentil beans, cranberries and some walnuts for a delicious salad.  We also pulled out some recipe books and attempted some menu planning.    Another thing completed off our list.

We cleaned up.   And then we entered the garage - Goddess Leslie's ART Studio Extraordinaire. We pulled out paints and brushes.  And put on some smocks.  And then Goddess Leslie presented me with a full sheet of paper.

A little daunting and ominous.  I was up for the challenge.  This was the reason for our Re-TREAT in the first place.  BIG ART!!!  I started to paint - no thinking, just feeling  - colors and shapes and happy!!!  The painting below took me two days to complete.  It made my heart sing. It felt good looking at it and painting it.  No rules, no format - just pick a color and paint.  I even stayed up until 11:00 p.m. (way past my bedtime) to add detail and color and expression.

Completely euphoric from the creation that was occurring, we took out the bicycles at 11:00 p.m. and under a nearly full moon rode around with Doggess-Goddess Mandy in a backpack. With the beautiful evening breeze and the slight sensation of doing something "against the rules" we returned home full of energy.  Before retiring for the morning (12:35 a.m.) we decided what our priorities were for the next day and went to sleep.

The next morning, I sat on the patio and did a yoga routine and was rewarded by the pretty duck that came out to encourage and inspire me.  Goddess Leslie woke up and we took another bike ride right to the swimming pool for a morning swim.  When we returned, we made some yummy fruit shakes with berries and peanut butter and almond milk.  And then right into the Art studio we reTREATED.

This time our music selection had no words  - we chose classical music.  For me, I found that this helped me focus and really connect to that Source from above which flowed through me to the paper.

We set the table for lunch and were joined by Goddess Lisa for a most delicious lunch of another salad creation (this time, we added garbonzo beans and strawberries and pine nuts to our base) and leftover pasta from dinner which we converted into a pasta salad.

Goddess Lisa went to paint while Goddess Leslie and I went upstairs to the bedroom to tackle her closet.  Armed with my computer and list of things to be completed, she tried on clothes and cleaned out her closet while I went through the list and contacted, send emails and tied up a whole bunch of loose ends that were overwhelming Goddess Leslie.  And we got the closet tidied up and a huge pile of clothes ready for GoodWill.

What was truly amazing was the ease and peace between us - women being together, working and producing and sharing and collaborating  - no stress, no pressure, no RESISTANCE - just a spirit of cooperation and understanding that we were moving forward and making things happen.

And though we did not go anywhere, creating space for us to play and disconnect from the Outer World helped us completely replenish.  Spending time together, as women, friends and sisters and doing things that nourished our soul as well as our bodies, even for this brief period of time, was so lovely and beneficial. 

We were flowing so well, I wasn't ready to go home and Goddess Leslie wanted me to stay.  You know what happens when two powerful women put their heads together.  All sorts of havoc is created.

With these two little thoughts put out to the Universe,  the weather turned ferocious.  Massive thunderstorms and a heavy downpour.  Goddess Leslie's husband's flight was delayed.  Her car broke down.  And our play time was extended for another hour.  It gave us time to get an hour of Scrabble played.  And one last thing off our list.  Tee hee!!!

Feelings

For the last couple of months, I was feeling very stuck and stagnant - not writing, not sharing, not flowing well.

The little Peep inside was not forthcoming - actually rebelling - ART - she kept on yelling.

And yet, so many things to do, lists to complete, chores to finish, life to keep up with.

Not allowing myself to play - not making it a priority in my life - so I can have some balance.

"All work and no play....", they say.

Goddess Leslie came over with Dog-God Mandy and we painted rocks.  This, for me, was such a great start - small yet significant - a little bit of paint, some rocks, not a major commitment of time  - or so I thought.  Three hours later, we are still painting rocks and talking - in quiet stillness and yet together.

And the child within was mollified.  And so was I.

Painting seven rocks - allowing  myself expression in color - it's a wonderful thing.  And it seems to unlock the door to feelings and emotions - none which have any words or labels, just images/clouds that go through me - feelings, nothing more than feelings.

It inspired us to plan a re-TREAT.  We committed to a time and place and activities for the PEEPS within and the adults who house them.  We agreed to work together as Sisters & Goddesses to help each other move forward in unconditional love and support.

Tis a beautiful thing!!!

Goddess ArtMuse

My recent trip to California yielded a delightful surprise.  The neighbour's daughters were watching the dog-GOD during the pre-wedding festivities.  One night, I was asked to bring the dog-GOD home.   I walked over and as I got to the door, I stepped onto this beautiful mosaic creation.  I was so enthralled, I took off my shoes and let my toesies feel the energy of the shells and stones in this artistic creation. 

I had an opportunity to meet Goddess Cheryl and her lovely family at my cousin's wedding.  Her daughters walked down the aisle and helped the bride with her lovely train.  Her Goddesses In Real Life were also the dog-GOD's official wedding escorts.

The day before I left California, I went to snap the picture above and Goddess Cheryl opened the door and told me the story of its creation.  She then opened the door to her home and art studio and shared with me her divine creations.  I post her busy-ness cards below because they contain two of her artistic renditions.

Besides being a mother of two lovely Goddesses in Real Life, Goddess Cheryl is also an Artist ExtraOrdinary, a fabulous Designer and an awesome Illustrator.  She might be blessing women and GIRLs of this world by opening up her space and teaching art classes.  Yay!!!

I was so inspired by this Goddess, I created a video of a sampling of her ART with music on Animoto.  These videos are my gift of love to you, my Goddess.  

Thank you for your inspiration, your grace, your SPIRIT.

I am so grateful!!! I am so blessed!!!

Day 2 at Sea - Cozumel

We met for breakfast in the Dining Room.  So much food!!!  Still feeling full from the night before.  And yet, once the food is in front of you, it seems that there is always a little room to eat some more.

I had never been to Cozumel.  The ship was docking at 11:00 a.m. and I had a feeling it would be a mad rush off the ship.  So we decided to convene with the Elders and the Great Aunties at 2:30 p.m. for our Mexican adventure.

WSM Noah and I got off the ship at noon once it received clearance.  Walking down the pier from where our ship was docked to the building with Duty Free and shopping, I could not get over how turquoise blue the water is.   

 Through the craziness of shopping kiosks and out the building we went to get a cab for the 10 minute ride into downtown Cozumel.  We walked through downtown and were a little bit disappointed.  Lots of American bars and stores selling gold and souvenirs and T-shirts.  It did not seem like we would see any Mexican culture at all.

In fact, Cozumel used to be a sleepy little island until the cruise ships began to come.  Now, Cozumel gets 4 cruise ships a day except on Wednesdays when it is visited by 8 ships.  Therefore, it caters to the tourist industry.

And it was hot in Cozumel.  A lot like Florida in the summer and this was at 10:00 a.m. (2 hours behind ship time).  However, we were blessed with some awesome sea breezes.  We walked back to the port and our ship and found some lovely cowboy hats for the Great Aunties.

At 2:30 p.m., wheelchairs and caretakers in tow, we got off our ship - not a person in sight, smooth sailing all the way.  We wheeled right down the pier and through the shopping plaza and waited for just the right taxicab (van size with a little step) for our group.  And so we drove the 3/4 mile to Discover Mexico for our little adventure.

Discover Mexico is a wonderful find in Cozumel - this place was like like being in one of Epcot Center's pavilions.  We were greeted warmly and offered refreshments.  We took a group photo before our tour.  That's me in pink between Dr. Bernie and Uncle Josh.

And then we went inside an air conditioned building and were seated in a big hall with four big screens.  The lights were dimmed and we watched a 15 minute movie with amazing sights and wonderful sounds of all the beautiful places and things to do in Mexico.  And then we were escorted into an Art Museum where our very knowledgeable guide, Ramon, took his time as he explained to us the different art work that graced the halls.  We oohed and aahed  at the colorful and beautiful art.  The tapestry below is but one of the awesome pieces we had the

 honor to see.

We were then led to the outside portion of our tour.  After meeting some fabulous Macaws and Cockatoos, we followed our tour guide Ramon through a most informative tour of miniature relics of all the pyramids and major sites of Mexico.    

For more pics, go to Cozumel &  Cozumel sights.