Belizimo

WELCOME TO MY COUNTRY!

Little Things...Big Impact!

WE MADE IT...CHEERS!

What a life altering trip!

When my friend, Lisa asked me if I wanted to go to Belize...
I immediately without a bit of hesitation, said...YES!

OMG...YES!

So on March 27th we boarded a plane for Belize!

She had plans.  Things to do.  Places to go.

I didn't!

I wasn't even sure where in Belize we were going!  I didn't care.

There is something really wonderful about going along for the ride.

Knowing.  Trusting...that all the details were handled and taken care of...that's a vacation in its self!

And they were!

There were moments of craziness...like sitting in the Belize Airport waiting for our next flight and being at the wrong gate...and then island hopping on a plane that sounded like a sewing machine and literally zig-zagged down the runway before magically being lifted into the air...I know there was some divine intervention there!
 It happened each time...we held our breath...white knuckles...looks of terror...and then a sigh of relief...
we made it again!

There were moments of hospitality...when we were met at the airport by Chan, the Birdman.  He was our driver, expert bird watcher...and soon became our friend.  We were welcomed at the Belcampo Lodge with a cool hand towel, smiles and a glass of fresh lime water.   We knew this was going to be a special week!

There were moments of reflection...
The people of Belize are happy and generous.
They are gracious.
They are proud.
They are spirit-dwellers.
They are earth-keepers.
They are teachers!

There were many more moments of...
magic, spirit, people, ruins, fishing, music, scorpions, pigs and wonder.

 I will share those another time.

It's been 2 months since that magical trip.

Today Lisa and I spent the day reminiscing about Belize.

We are both still feeling the Belizimo magic!

This is my take-away from Belize...

I WANT LESS, SO I CAN HAVE MORE!

Gather & Gab

We gathered and gabbed for 4 hours...

Goddess Gathering Globe

We shared secrets.

We laughed.

We solved the problems of the world.

And we created! 

Women have gathered since the beginning of time...it was necessary then...and now even more! 

They gathered for ritual.

          To celebrate.

          To mourn.

          To nurture.

          To eat.

          To birth.

          To create.

As we get older and wiser...gathering with women is so important and necessary.   

I hear from women so often...I don't know what to do with myself anymore.  The kids are gone.  I've had success in business; I don't need to work.  I just want to have fun!

I can so relate to this!  My recent motto is:  NO FUN, NO DO!

I think we're just stuck, because for  the past 25-30 years we've been taking care of everybody else, right?  

I remember as a kid watching Father Knows Best, Leave it to Beaver and so many other wholesome sitcoms...(yes, I'm dating myself...and BTW wouldn't our world be a lot better off if those shows were still on?)  Anyhow...my point...when Mrs. Anderson (the mom) needed a cup of sugar, she would run next store to the neighbor and ask to borrow a cup...which would lead to a cup of coffee, a piece of cake...and a whole lot of conversation.

Today if I need a cup of sugar, I'll drive to the store and buy it...I wouldn't even think of knocking on my neighbor's door to ask for a cup of sugar!!!  Heck I don't even know their names...much less what they look like!!!

So what happened to that friendly, everyone knows everyone "neighborhood"?  Instead of sitting on the front porch chatting with the neighbors, we're watching a 52" TV mounted on the patio wall while the kids play in the pool!  

We don't park on the street.  We open the garage door with a remote, drive in, and close the door.  No one in the neighborhood knows if we're dead or alive...unless of course the newspapers start piling up on the driveway.  Even then...the neighbor would probably only knock on your door if your newspaper trash was bothering them!  

Yes, gathering with women is important.  It's fun.  It's life-saving.  

Creating with women is sacred.  

My friend and I sat and and chatted for hours while we glued pieces of tile, glass and jewels on a styrofoam ball.  We laughed...we shared secrets...we solved problems...we played "what if"...

We vowed to always gather...to giggle, to grow, to be gorgeous, to be grateful!

We created the "Goddess Gathering Globe"...it is sacred!

Do you gather with your girlfriends?  

Please share a story of your Goddess Gathering.

I AM CHACARUNA!

She Appeared!

The sound of tribal drumming is being played in the studio...  it's rhythmic.  I have selected 3 colors that have energy for me.  I am blind folded.  I am on the floor with paper and paint.  My palette is to the right, I dip my fingers in and begin to tap to the beat...more paint, tap, smear, sway...I am in!  After 10 minutes we are told to remove our blindfolds.

She appeared through a process painting retreat this past weekend.  This is not the first time, but it is the first time I truly felt her presence.

She was fierce at commanding her space on the paper.

She was deliberate.

She was particular.  She demanded to be seen.

I love turquoise, I'm wild about pink and passionate about purple!  She is NOT!  I felt her headdress was to be painted with turquoise, pink and purple feathers...she did not!  This dance of color continued for a day and a half.  She won.  Personally I think it clashes with the background and her, but there is no denying...she is here the way she wants to be!

She is bold, brave and a bit quirky!  I can't hear her, but I want to...I like her!

I feel a strong connection to this image.  I believe she is a bridge person...I am certain.  As I continued to feel the paint and her energy...her eyes opened and her mouth began to appear.

And then...She whispered softly to me with authority...I AM CHACARUNA!  I've been with you all along, but you could not see me.   I have watched over you.  I have protected you.  I live by the bridge.  It is not time for you to cross...there is much more for you to do.

I will show you...I AM CHACARUNA!