Flowers At Home

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Flowers To Brighten Our Days

During the pandemic that started in 2020, we have spent a lot of time in our homes. When I lived in San Francisco, there were flower shops near my workplace, so fairly often, I would bring a small bouquet home to decorate my apartment.

As the years passed, I did this less and less. It seemed to be money better-spent elsewhere and, at the time, it simply seemed a bit extravagant.

Fast forward to the pandemic of COVID-19. Staying home as much as we did, having a vase of flowers in the house was a way to bring a bit of nature inside and to brighten up the space with a pop of color.

Flowers From The Supermarket

Where I live now, I don’t have the dedicated little flower shops of an urban environment. My flowers come from the local supermarket. However, these little flower faces have proven to be just as sweet. They provide an uplifting spot of color, a breath of a living vibration that graces the center of the table.

And I’ve found that I don’t have to spend a lot of money for a small bouquet to decorate our room.

Flowers From A Neighbor

One day, a neighbor stopped by and gave us a bouquet of dahlias. These had come from a specialized grower of dahlias. The song of these gorgeous, full blossoms filled the room with their vibrant melody. The variety of the flowers made for a rich harmony of colors and shapes.

Dahlias, with all their variations, are a magical flower changing shape and color with abandon. They are also the “city flower” of Seattle.

Flowers To Mark Our Journey

All of the flowers that have filled our home have their own song to sing. Sometimes they match the feel of the season or they mark the various celebrations passing by on our calendars. Colors of autumn, Christmas themes, a celebration of hearts, a way to bring warm colors inside our homes during dark, winter nights.

Flowers Bring Nature Inside Our Homes

We decorate our homes with flowers even while remembering that the greatest of nature is outside. Of course, we know this. Yet, to have a tiny bit of nature, albeit in cut flowers, inside our room has the vibration of nature. It calls to us, reminds us of the life-force at the center of these colorful little beings. The sap rises in the stems and suffuses the petals with its energy, its life force. We are reminded of our own pulsing “sap” in our veins, carrying life to all the cells of our bodies. We are a part of nature.

For students of The Radiance Technique® (TRT®), we can connect to the marvels of nature with our Radiant Touch®. By using our TRT® hands-on, holding the flowers, lightly touching their petals when we greet them in the morning, we connect with the essence of nature. “Hello,” we say in our hearts as we add more water to their vase, “thank you for being here with me. Thank you for your existence.”

Even in the toughest of times, we say thank you. We lift our eyes to the sky and whisper our gratitude for this day, for these flowers, for our lives… even while we stay at home.

Our Great Ocean Blue

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World Oceans Day

Each year, on June 8, we celebrate our planet’s oceans. It’s a day to call attention to this vast resource and the importance of restoring and keeping its ecosystem healthy.

Here’s a quote from the World Oceans Day website:

“A healthy world ocean is critical to our survival. Every year, World Oceans Day provides a unique opportunity to honor, help protect, and conserve our world’s shared ocean.

The ocean is important because it:
Generates most of the oxygen we breathe
Helps feed us
Regulates our climate
Cleans the water we drink
Offers a pharmacopoeia of medicines
Provides limitless inspiration !”

World Oceans Day started out with encouragement from Canada in 1992. This country is acutely aware of the our oceans as it has three different oceans on its borders, a feat no other country can mimic. For example, while England is entirely surrounded by an ocean, that ocean is essentially the same one.

In 2008, the United Nations officially recognized World Oceans Day. Today, it’s an opportunity to celebrate our oceans and to learn how we can protect our natural resource.

Our Wide Oceans

Over 96% of all of Earth’s water exists in the oceans. If we expand our awareness, we see that even our oceans are in flux and constant change. It’s just that we’re so tiny and our perspective so limited, we don’t perceive it. This quote from USGS reveals that our oceans are, indeed, in flux over wide expanses of time.

“Of course, nothing involving the water cycle is really permanent, even the amount of water in the oceans. Over the “short term” of hundreds of years the oceans’ volumes don’t change much. But the amount of water in the oceans does change over the long term. During the last Ice Age, sea levels were lower, which allowed humans to cross over to North America from Asia at the (now underwater) Bering Strait.

During colder climatic periods more ice caps and glaciers form, and enough of the global water supply accumulates as ice to lessen the amounts in other parts of the water cycle. The reverse is true during warm periods. During the last ice age glaciers covered almost one-third of Earth’s land mass, with the result being that the oceans were about 400 feet (122 meters) lower than today. During the last global “warm spell,” about 125,000 years ago, the seas were about 18 feet (5.5. meters) higher than they are now. About three million years ago the oceans could have been up to 165 feet (50 meters) higher.”
— USGS

We don’t how many different species call the ocean their home. Currently, scientists know of around 226,000 ocean species. 

It could be that more than 90% of the ocean’s species are still undiscovered. Some scientists estimate that there are anywhere between a few hundred thousand to a few million more to be discovered. Well, that’s quite a range!


The Beginning Of Our Oceans

You have to go back in time, far, far, back in time to find the origins of our oceans. In fact, you’ve got to start with alien origins. Our oceans fell from the sky, but not as rain.

We truly all are star-dust.

Those little molecules of two hydrogen and one oxygen atoms that make up water were floating in a planetary nebula into which our Sun was born. The water molecules came together by chance on carbon and silicon dust grains. Our precious water fell to earth in frozen lumps from space. (Just as a reference, the rings around Saturn are composed of dust and ice.) Our planet was also pummeled by comets and asteroids that were rich in alien water.

Planet Earth is the original Goldilocks story. In relation to the Sun, we’re in the perfect place to maintain our oceans.

Unlike Venus which is too close to the Sun. The solar radiation tears apart the water oxygen and hydrogen molecules. Hydrogen slips off into space. Goodbye, water.

And unlike Mars which is too far from the Sun. There isn’t enough solar radiation to keep water moving. All the water there turned into runaway glaciers.

We’ve got just the right balance to maintain our oceans. Not too hot, not too cold.

To read more about the watery space journey of our oceans to Earth, please click on this link: Alien Origins of Earth’s Oceans.

Connect To Our Oceans

In our awareness, we reflect on our deep connection to salt water, all the way down to our own bodies which are filled with saline water. We can take the time to learn more about specific oceanic mammals and creatures – there are many to choose from. How about starfish, seahorses, or the different types of whales? Or what about those deep ocean creatures that don’t see the light because they live so far down in the ocean’s depths?

Celebrate Our Oceans

On World Oceans Day, we remind everyone of the major role the oceans have in everyday life. They are the lungs of our planet, providing most of the oxygen we breathe. 

June 8 is a day to celebrate together the beauty, the wealth and the promise of the ocean. And to remind ourselves to care for the oceans, every day, throughout the year.

Brave and Beautiful Bees

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World Bee Day

World Bee Day arrives with fanfare on May 20, but of course, we know that EVERY DAY is world bee day. These little pollinators are our life blood. Bees provide our daily bread as they seed pollen throughout the plant world and our crops.

“Why a World Bee Day?

By observing World Bee Day each year, we can raise awareness on the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy, and on the many challenges they face today.”

Bees In History

Thousands of years ago, the Egyptians gave honor to our bees. Bee drawings are found on obelisks and in hieroglyphic representations. Pots decorated with a bee and filled with honey were found in the tombs of the pharaohs.

If you have an Instagram account, you can connect with Ben’s Bees, a delightful beekeeper in Australia. He loves to share all things bees: honey, history and fun facts. in this photo, he talks about bees in Egypt and how they were revered.

An Egyptian writing describes how working bees fall from the tears of the Sun God Ra. Well, that sounds about right, doesn’t it?

The Bee Shortage Is Real

My parents lived in Washington State and their home had a large lot where they had raspberry vines and apple trees. One summer they told me that they didn’t have any apples or raspberries, because there were not enough bees to pollinate the flowers. I was horrified and couldn’t believe this was really happening. My heart was crushed.

I suggested getting a beekeeper to place a hive or two on their property, but they were in their 80s and sadly, the process had already started for them to move to a smaller place. Their house was sold and they moved away. I still wonder what happened to their wonderful raspberry vines and apple trees. The beautiful apple pies and homemade raspberry jam that my parents carefully crafted are cherished memories of delicious family-shared treats.

Help Our Bees

One thing we can do is support local beekeepers. Buy local honey. Yes, it costs more, but you also know you are getting pure honey and not honey laced with corn syrup that’s been imported.

It’s been said that eating honey from your local environment helps provide positive exposure to local pollens and can help to lessen hay fever allergies. We’re not sure how much of that is scientifically true, but it’s a lovely idea.

If you have a backyard, plant some bee-friendly plants. You can also do this on a balcony with potted plants. Eliminate or decrease the amount of pesticides or herbicides that you use. Consider having a wildlife-friendly backyard.

Maybe you have the opportunity to support local bees and beekeepers even if it is as simple as buying their local honey..

“Today, bees, pollinators, and many other insects are declining in abundance. World Bee Day provides an opportunity for all of us – whether we work for governments, organizations or civil society or are concerned citizens – to promote actions that will protect and enhance pollinators and their habitats, improve their abundance and diversity, and support the sustainable development of beekeeping.”

As we celebrate our bees every day, we hold in our hearts that there will be a great planetary awakening that recognizes and protects our precious bees.

Long live our Bees!

Earth Day Inside Our Homes

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Celebrate Earth Day

It’s April 22 and today we celebrate Earth Day! Except this year, much of it will be spent inside or practicing our new activity of social distancing, so gathering together for Earth Day events won’t be quite the same of past years.

We Belong To The Earth

We are reminded in this quote that our human lives are tied to our planet. Even if you succeeded at living on Mars, you would not just run out the door of your house for a walk in the park. Firstly, you’d need to climb into your spacesuit that would provide oxygen. And heaven help you if your unit failed.

No oxygen? It will only take a couple of minutes for that to no longer be a problem. As in, you will have expired and oxygen will no longer be needed for your lifeless body.

Well, on that cheery note, let us give a moment of thanks to our trees and plants that contribute oxygen to this planet.

Oxygen = breath = life. Our precious breath that allows us to be here. It’s the cry of a newborn baby as his lungs fill with life-sustaining air. It’s our breath in our meditations. Our lifeline to this planet is our breath. We are deeply connected to our precious earth.

Ideas For A Locked-Down Earth Day

Rainier Fruit from Washington State put together some ideas for creating Earth Day habits that we can do at home and that extend throughout the year. Because, truly, Earth Day is not just a day. It’s a way of life.

Rainier’s ideas are easily translated into our daily lives. Do you remember your parents telling you to turn off the lights if you’re not in the room? That’s an easy one.

Leftovers are a great way to decrease waste and to help your budget. Make an initial investment in some reusable containers to store leftover foods in the refrigerator. Glass is great for tomato or oily based foods. For plastic containers, make sure they are BPA-free.

Can’t stand eating the same meal two days in a row? Make use of your freezer. Divide leftover meals into single-serve containers. Let them defrost in the refrigerator and voilà, a meal you can enjoy a week, or even a month, later.

Eating-up your leftovers has the added benefit of decreasing your time spent cooking. A little reheat on a stovetop or in a microwave makes a quick and satisfying meal.

Just say NO to plastic, one-time use water bottles. Klean Kanteen is my go-to for sustainable bottles, but there are a lot of different companies that fulfill this purpose. You can also get reusable, insulated containers for when you visit your favorite coffee shop. Decrease your use of single-use coffee cups.

If you carry an 8-ounce coffee container into Starbucks (double espresso, touch of milk), they take it and you might even get a 5¢ discount for using your own container. Hey, every little bit helps!

If you like big coffee drinks, hot or cold, the insulated mugs come in all sizes to accommodate various caffeine-concoctions.

In Touch With Nature

For those of us stuck in small apartments where it’s difficult to get out, our need for nature looms more strongly than we ever realized. It’s easy to take nature for granted until we can’t be in it.

Given how much our planet sustains us, we want to make sure it’s cared for in a responsible way. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming. This big planet – I’m just a small human, what can *I* do to help?

Each of us can help in very small ways. If you never leave a piece of trash on the highway or in the park, that is one less piece of trash. If you put into practice just a couple ideas this year, and then add to that next year, and so on, when it’s all added together, we begin to make a difference.

Enjoy and connect to Planet Earth today and every day!

Tumble Into Autumn

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Fall Into The Autumnal Equinox

The equinox of autumn arrives. It’s a time when most places on Earth will see approximately 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. For a brief moment, light and dark hang in equal balance.

But, nature never stands still, and in the next breath, we begin the shift to shorter days and longer nights. The dark night reigns supreme until the winter solstice occurs when the light of day will assert its dominance once again.

We stand witness to a perpetual dance between light and dark, ceaselessly turning in a slow-motion tango, never letting go of one another.

When Is The Fall Equinox

The fall equinox marks the symmetry between light and darkness. It’s a recognition of the day the sun crosses the celestial equator, signifying the transition from summer to fall.

“Because it takes the Earth about 365.25 days to orbit the Sun – (it’s why we have a leap year every 4 years) – the precise time of the equinoxes varies from year to year, usually happening around six hours later on successive years. On leap years, the date jumps back an entire day.”
— Melissa Breyer, Tree Hugger

In the Northern Hemisphere, the fall equinox occurs each year between September 21 to 23. Occasionally, it can fall on September 24. In 2019, we will mark the equinox on September 23.

“FALL WEATHER
It is the summer’s great last heat,
It is the fall’s first chill: They meet.”
— Sarah Morgan Bryan Platt
 
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Falling Bits Of Color

Right on cue, with cooler temperatures and shortening days, the leaves begin to turn colors. They tumble to the earth and we tumble with them into our sweaters, boots and steaming mugs of coffee.

Just as the trees can’t hold on to their leaves, we, too, can’t hold on to summer. The brilliant colors of orange, red and gold carpet the earth and serve as a reminder to celebrate the changes.

Buried deep within the sap of the trees, the life flame remains. It curls up, sleeping, waiting until it is called forth by lengthening days and the warmth of spring.

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Fall Meditations

Fall is a time to meet up with your inner self, a time for self-dialogue. As we shift into autumn, we set our intentions and open ourselves to receive the darkening days and falling leaves. Cooler weather encourages moments of contemplation with expanding awareness the balance of dark and light in the equinox. Our meditation supports the light within us that is always there even in the darkest of times.

Morning Dew

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In The Morning Dew

The morning dew.

Translucent pearls adorn nature's foliage and offer sips of water for tiny crawling creatures.

Secrets of the dawning sun are reflected in their minuscule orbs.

Whispers of a fairy world are heard as they transform into vapor and disappear. 

Dew drops hold the freshness of an awakening day as if providing metaphoric sprinkles of water to splash the sleep from our eyes.

The Little Things

I was reminded of the magic of dew drops when I saw this poem by Kahlil Gibran.

In the sweetness
of friendship
let there be laughter,
and the sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew
of little things
the heart
finds its morning
and is refreshed.

Kahlil Gibran

Finding Dew Drops

It's worth getting up early to sneak out into the garden or the park to commune with the fleeting dew drops of the morning. The morning sun quickly burns away their watery melodies, leaving us to marvel at this transitory life.

With The Radiance Technique® (TRT®), students can place one hand in their heart as they observe nature and dew drops and increase their awareness of this little existence. Welcome the morning with TRT® hands-on in Head position #3 or #4 and in Front position #1 and #2. 

As the day begins outside of you, let it begin inside of you, too, with expanded light.

 

No Sleeping At The Traffic Light

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Songwriter Jackson Browne spins a tale about the ordinary rhythm of our daily lives:

 
“Where the sirens sing and the church bells ring
And the junkman pounds his fenders
Where the veterans dream of the fight
Fast asleep at the traffic light...”
— The Pretender
 

No Sleeping At The Lights

Driving in the Pacific Northwest, the surrounding mountains reign over the lowlands. Their dignified mountaintops, especially when topped with snow caps, serve as a reminder that Valhalla shimmers above us.

Take your pick – the Cascades, the Olympics, or the great one itself, Mt. Rainier. 

Caught up in the harried business of the day, you swing around a corner and, for a moment, your breath catches when the mountains pop into view. For just that second, you hear the call and humming of the wide expanse of nature.

I often think of that line in Jackson Browne's song when I'm driving around in western Washington.

Veteran or not, there's no sleeping at the traffic lights here. The views are too good to be missed.

The Mountain Is Out

There's a saying in the Seattle area: "The Mountain is out" – it means the sky is clear enough to see Mt. Rainier. Given the rainfall and cloudy days in the area, this is an event worth noting among the natives.

According to Barry Popik’s etymological dictionary, The Big Apple, this phrase was referenced as long ago as August 1951 in a syndicated column in a newspaper from Illinois, the Registered-Republic:

 
“When Seattle folk can see Mount Rainier... the common phrase is,
Oh, look: the mountain is out today.”
— Bennet Cerf, 1951
 

A Mountain Greets You

On a clear day in one mountain town, Mt. Rainier welcomes you at the traffic light.

It's one of the rare times you hope that you'll get stopped at a red light, just so you can drink in the scenery.

When Smoke Fills The Sky

In the summer of 2017, a smoky haze from the wildfires in British Columbia drifted over Washington State. The mountains were obliterated from view.

If you were seeing it for the first time, you'd think there were no mountains.

For those of us used to seeing The Mountain as we drive into town, it was unsettling for it to suddenly be invisible.

A 12,000 foot mountain erased.

Below, same intersection, no hint of a mountain (no filter, no Photoshop).

The mountain is supposed to only disappear behind the clouds.

With the smoke from the wildfires, The Mountain wasn't out even though we had no cloud cover. A massive volcano had vanished, beamed into another dimension.

If you didn't know a mountain was supposed to be there, you'd never have been the wiser.

So much for our perceptions of reality.

What We Perceive

With The Radiance Technique® (TRT®), it's possible to apply TRT® hands-on in whatever circumstance you find yourself. Whether The Mountain is Out or not. 

With ongoing use of TRT®, you can deepen your awareness of things seen and not seen, the deeper energies behind our perceptions. 

Even to include the mountains.

It's like the saying that you know you're from The Pacific Northwest if:

You can point to at least two volcanoes,
even if you cannot see through the cloud cover.