Quicklisting Spiritlifting Things

Day 17 of 30.

Every day in September, I’ve been choosing what I can do fun, or funny, that day. Today, throwing a smokey sky into the mix of this crazy year reminds me how very important is to find what lifts your spirit. As we head into an uncertain Fall and Winter, maybe you’d like to try what I’m doing today:

Quicklisting spiritlifting things. 

Quicklisting means writing/typing a specific number of answers in one sitting in answer to a question. I’m going to choose 100 because I know that’s do-able, but you may not believe me yet, so choose 50? 

Today I will ask, “what’s fun and lifts your spirits?” I will just start typing (setting document to automatically do numbers) and when I get to, say, number 20 and I’m stuck, I will write something like, “Oh look, there’s a spec on the floor” or “why am I doing this?” or you could write, “Janet’s ridiculous” BUT I will keep writing, anyway, until I reach 100 items. 

This process is excellent at ultimately revealing answers that you had buried for one reason or another, or discovering brand new answers that will bring a sparkle to your eyes. Those last 10 items can be very telling.

And then? Give yourself permission to do those spiritlifting things. You are worth it.

Image is a photo of a card my daughter sent me from Scotland many years ago. Isn’t it stunning?

The Amaranteen Theory Time of Year.

For a long long time now, I have chosen my age just before my birthday. My family has been ever so kind to honour the age I choose – wonderful beings that they are.

The fact is, I’ve been doing this for so long now, that if I do need to know my ‘legal age’, I ask my daughters or I have to calculate! This upcoming birthday is considered a milestone by those who count, and my family isn’t letting me forget it, but still I’m not turning a number.

This is not vanity. This is my way of not allowing my own perceptions of age to affect how I live my life.  I started ‘age choosing’ when I noticed in my thoughts that I was questioning how long I would be able to continue to waterski.

For many years, I’ve practised and experienced the power of thought and visualization for improving sport ability and for healing nasty sport injuries. Three times I was told I would never ski again. I’m grateful for the magic of visualizing because I continue to ski.

And so I applied the same principles – the power of thought – to my thinking about my age. It works like a charm for me, because honestly, even still when I think in terms of ‘age,’ I am surprised at the chaos of limiting beliefs that have been formed in my thoughts.

Ever think you are too old to write a book, hike a mountain, or start a new career?  Then you understand. I seriously can’t have those kind of thoughts in my head. I’d still be back in the corporate world if I’d allowed those to take hold!

A number of years back, my dog’s vet was surprised I still skiied and played hard. He said, “So, isn’t it time you started aging gracefully?”   Excuse me? No! I was a baby still in my 40’s! I was inspired to change vets.

To me ‘aging gracefully’ triggered beliefs that would not serve me well. For you, however, it may be an empowering thought.

Here’s how amaranteen came along:

Many years ago I chose 37.5.  But the next year, I realized I needed to add some years for wisdom, so I turned ‘ageless’, then ‘timeless’, then ‘eternal’, then ‘nana age’.  My age comes to me from an “aha” moment, a daughter, or a thesaurus. The next choice was via a thesaurus. When I found the word amaranthine, as a synonym to eternal, I leaped in the air!  Amaranthine means:
eternally beautiful and unfading; everlasting, and has been used in reference to an unfading imaginary flower.

“Perfect!” I thought, “what a beautiful age to be!”  And so, that year I celebrated being amaranteen!

And so the Amaranteen Theory was concocted to share this concept for those who might need it.

The List of ages:

27 1/2
28 3/4
ageless
infinite
timeless
amaranteen
faerinthian
12 20 Phoenix
–
Briganteen
sixty years of magic imagine more
Cabinnaturian of the Blue Sky Decade
Peaceflow Rainbow of the Blue Sky Decade.
Faetreen

Ffagical
(added later than this Post: Next were
Briganteen

Happees

Grizzly Bear

and 2023 – Witchity. byline: The Cauldron and The Broom shall be Honoured.

Ffagical! A plan for my birthday sketchbook is to do effing magical drawings all year, plus my usual sketch memories, of course!

And this year? The insane 2020?  I was brainstorming out loud when my 9 year old granddaughter suggested, “Maybe you should turn Quaranteen this year.”
Clever child. And funny. But no.

I’m turning Briganteen.  Solid, strong, brave, well-equipped for any adventure, loves the thrill of a strong wind and can equally enjoy peaceful, quiet secluded times anchored at home.  Ya, I like that. I’m turning Briganteen this year.

And this name-my-year theory does keep creaky bones and cranky thoughts about getting older in check.

Practising the Art of a Bodacious Booty

I’m noticing that my stretchy pants are getting tight. That made me think, ‘Whoa, you sexy bodacious thing!” So, as I walked about the house, I chose to mindfully be aware of this slightly different body size. I test it out, swinging my hips like only a beautiful full body woman can do. I know I need much more practise, so I pop another butterscotch square in my mouth, savouring the comfort-food-edness of it.

I peek in the mirror to see if my face is gorgeously filling out and wrinkles are disappearing. Have you ever noticed that older woman with fuller faces have less wrinkles and look very young?

I figure now would be a good time to go for that; less wrinkles, more big booty, a confident sexy swagger as I walk; it’s like an opportunity to practise being the actress I always wanted to be!! How cool is that! So, I pop another butterscotch square in my mouth, feeling good about supporting my brave creative adventure by just eating whatever. I washed it down with spinach juice, though, because, as we all know, balance is good.

~~~

To my readers,
I know I haven’t been here much, or at all, in the past year. Writerly Kits and other things have kept me away.  In this very challenging time, I thought of you who kindly subscribe to these posts. I thought you’d enjoy a little humour and maybe be inspired to dream up new perspectives to help you right now.  Wishing you all strength, wellness, ways to lift your spirits, and a sprinkle of magic.

The Amaranteen Theory Revisited 2019

This year I’ve turned Ffagical. You might guess the FF parts, and the rest. Hee hee.  For those who know me, I’m sure you’ve guessed the agical part comes from magical.

And here is my annual republishing of this post  (original from 2010.)

~~~~~~~

For a long long time now, I have chosen my age just before my birthday. My family has been ever so kind to honour the age I choose – wonderful beings that they are.

The fact is, I’ve been doing this for so long now, that if I do need to know my ‘legal age’, I ask my daughters or I have to calculate!

This is not vanity. This is my way of not allowing my own perceptions of age to affect how I live my life.  I started ‘age choosing’ when I noticed in my thoughts that I was questioning how long I would be able to continue to waterski.

For many years, I’ve practised and experienced the power of thought and visualization for improving sport ability and for healing nasty sport injuries. Three times I was told I would never ski again. I’m grateful for the magic of visualizing because I continue to ski.

And so I applied the same principles – the power of thought – to my thinking about my age. It works like a charm for me, because honestly, even still when I think in terms of ‘age,’ I am surprised at the chaos of limiting beliefs that have been formed in my thoughts.

Ever think you are too old to write a book, hike a mountain, or start a new career?  Then you understand. I seriously can’t have those kind of thoughts in my head. I’d still be back in the corporate world if I’d allowed those to take hold!

A number of years back, my dog’s vet was surprised I still skiied and played hard. He said, “So, isn’t it time you started aging gracefully?”   Excuse me? No! I was a baby still in my 40’s! I was inspired to change vets.

To me ‘aging gracefully’ triggered beliefs that would not serve me well. For you, however, it may be an empowering thought.

Now about my amaranteenth birthday..
Many years ago I chose 37.5.  But the next year, I realized I needed to add some years for wisdom, so I turned ‘ageless’, then ‘timeless’, then ‘eternal’, then ‘nana age’.  My age comes to me from an “aha” moment, a daughter, or a thesaurus. The next choice was via a thesaurus. When I found the word amaranthine, as a synonym to eternal, I leaped in the air!  Amaranthine means:
eternally beautiful and unfading; everlasting, and has been used in reference to an unfading imaginary flower.  “Perfect!” I thought, “what a beautiful age to be!”  And so, that year I celebrated being amaranteen!

And so the Amaranteen Theory was concocted to share this concept for those who might need it.

The List of ages:

27 1/2
28 3/4
ageless
infinite
timeless
amaranteen
faerinthian
12 20 Phoenix
(I think I’ve missed some)
sixty years of magic imagine more
Cabinnaturian of the Blue Sky Decade
Peaceflow Rainbow of the Blue Sky Decade.
Faetreen

And this year is Ffagical! Should be entertaining. A plan for my birthday sketchbook is to do effing magical drawings all year, plus my usual sketch memories, of course!

And this name-my-year theory does keep creaky bones and cranky thoughts about getting older in check.

Permission to Break Rules

Blackout Poetry…

What? Poetry? Eek, let me run!

If that’s what you are saying, hang in for just a sec. I know poetry scares the heck out of many people. Writing it scares them even more.

But this activity does three things:

1.  You rediscover the wicked awesome feeling of breaking self-imposed rules and ideally bring that into the rest of your life.
2. You discover you actually can explore writing poetry and in the process have a curious self-discovery aha moment.
3. You awaken an appreciation of poetry, for those of you who’ve not really had that experience yet.

The image is a little inspiration for you – blackout poetry created by a few writer friends who joined me yesterday at Squilax Hostel for a writer’s retreat day. Each of us had our unique approach; from simply ‘blacking’ out words to highlight the chosen ones; to writing the chosen words onto the page; to decorating with felts and images. Our poetry also includes writing in words that weren’t on the page and glueing words from other pages when we needed them.

There simply are no rules. However, I’ve noted in workshops where I’ve introduced blackout poetry,  it takes a lot of encouragement to help people understand this. They struggle with trying to make something ‘poetic.’  They’re surprised that they don’t have to use just the words on the page – that they can add words from elsewhere, or simply write in words that are missing. It takes a few minutes of encouragement but once they realize they can do anything, it’s amazing to see their energy lighten up, their eyes sparkle and their creativity blossom.

The clincher that gets people inspired? Affirming over and over that THERE ARE NO RULES.  Our minds so often go first to things like: Am I supposed to do it this way? What’s the right way to do this? I don’t want to do it wrong. (This is also true in making life choices.)

Once given permission to break rules (self-imposed or otherwise), it’s like the mind and soul are ignited. Creativity leaps up yelling “Yay! I get to play!”  and wondrous discoveries happen. (This is also true in making life choices, by the way.)

The How-to’s of Blackout Poetry:

• Take a page from any book or magazine. (If wrecking a book is against your principles, please know that I, as an author, would be proud to donate pages of my book to your blackout poetry. Or, go to your used book store and ask what books are going to the dump. Yup. That happens. You can give that old book new life)
• Lightly circle words that stand out as you scan the page. Leave these words visible as you ‘black out’  the other words or create a design that highlights your choice words into a poem.

Seems so simple, yes? It is. A simple thoughtful process. Self discovery and poetry can be this simple, this mindful, and this profound.

Hell, you could even make origami cranes out of the paper leaving a couple meaningful words visible.  No rules, after all!

~~~~

I’d be so happy if you would share your blackout poetry here. Or even share what the process was like for you, if you are shy to share the image!  In fact, let me encourage you. If you share in the comments, I’ll do a draw for some cool prize. (Maybe my book, so you can turn it into black out poetry. Ideally, you read it first. It’s quite good. ~shameless promotion~)

~~~~

The get together yesterday was to test out Squilax Hostel’s potential for writing retreats. We all agreed it’s a very unique and inspiring location. Besides poetry, we all worked on other writing projects, plus we had tummies full of good food and coffee.

I’m excited to plan future retreats! Are you interested?

Are you an alien?

Dear Creative Being,

I know, sometimes it’s lonely out there. A big old world full of logic and order and timelines and you ain’t worth shit if you ain’t producing something daily – a clean house, food, paperwork, a task list for the day that is not do-able, but must be done, anyway.  A world of cubicles  and bills and sometimes you just look at it all and wonder, “Am I an alien?”

A world where doodling in meetings or worse yet, leaping up with an ‘aha’ insight that can’t be backed up with statistics. is frowned upon.   Lord, will they never understand creative genius?

Maybe you are an alien. Or, wait. Maybe you’re not and they are.

Okay, that’s it. The last two lines are your prompt for the day to write, paint, doodle, sing with.

And try to let go the thoughts that you aren’t being productive as you do it.

5 reasons why we don’t get to the things we want to.

A few years back, I asked friends to list: “Five reasons why I never get around to doing the things I really want to.”  The answers are priceless, funny, and relatable!

I would LOVE to have you add your list of five reasons in the comments! Some things will be different now, I imagine. Instagram and pinterest will probably be in some lists!

1. I have ADD (Attentional Delight and Distraction) issues!2. I like to organise and sort all my wonderful ideas, supplies and treasures.
3. My studio gets cluttered with stockpiles of supplies and treasures.
4. Ideas are light and easy to carry around in my head.
5. I keep chasing rainbows……………….

1. I’m working as a technical writer.
2. I’m eating (frikkin inconvenient, when the body demands fuel).
3. I’m sleeping.
4. On Facebook…
5. On Facebook…

1.demanding children
2.easily distracted
3.recent addiction to facebook
6.I cant count properly so time gets lost
11. wow that’s 11 reasons

1. doing other things I really want to
2. dreaming up ways to get to what I really want to
3. on facebook
4. got distracted and forgot what I really wanted to get to
5. what if the idea of my great idea is so great that it’s scary to get to it cuz I might find out it wasn’t that great after all?

1. i clean house instead, because that is easy and how can you go wrong, really?
2. what i really want to do seems too involved and i will have to START somewhere
3. i get lost in finding or needing new materials or equipment
4. etsy snares me and i think, “wow…maybe i should try THAT instead”
5. sometimes i am afraid that the actual piece won’t live up to the idea in my head.

1. Real responsibilities (kids, job, the dishes)
2. Fake responsibilities — you know, those things I take on that really belong to someone else
3. Email
4. Guilt (Aren’t those real and fake responsibilities more important?)5. The stuff all over the table

Finding Magic, Hearing Crashes on the Rooftop

 

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”   

ROALD DAHL

 

 

Christmas: it is a celebration of magic, with choices of what that means to each of us…

• A celebration of the Spirit of Santa, love, family, friends
• A celebration of spiritual events of many cultures and endless centuries that seem to all coincide with this time of year
• A celebration of the magic of our earth, the sun, and the galaxy creating seasons, now turned Winter on the solstice.
• Other (I’m sure some of you have other)

The earth, the universe, the spirits, all the magic – it does just fine on its own without our interference. The gift given to us as mortals is to have the opportunity to notice and truly feel the magic; expand our limited thinking to become a conscious part of it.

And there is a way. At Christmas: there’s another celebration that is key – the children. We need only learn from the children, who know so much more than we who have grown up and had it knocked out of us by some false sense of ‘reality’ and ‘fitting in.’

Innately, we know the children are our gifts and can teach us the magic. At Christmas, we most honour them and their belief in magic, than we do anything else during the season. We act as if it’s our adulting job to humour their imagination, but that’s not true. We do it because we still want to believe and, for the majority of adults, only through the children can we vicariously connect with the magic. Still, we knock it out of them as they grow because as adults we’ve grown a bit stupi… er… less wise. We just follow like sheep with what happened to us.

A child has a brilliant imagination. And, people, it is imagination that is the key to a higher level of connection and knowing. Children ARE wiser and more attune to all that is, than we adults who lose it and then think we are the teachers. No, adults, we are not the teachers. Sure, we can teach good eating habits, and healthy choices, and math and spelling and much more. But not spirituality, not ‘knowing’, not intuition, not inner wisdom, not imagination. Kids are born with all of that. We could, however, be the expert support systems who both learn from the children and support and encourage their way of being.  (And yes, grown ups can relearn… more on that below)

When the child hears the reindeer on the roof, or is certain Santa is in the home – they are right. They’ve connected at a higher level to the extra magic that arrives at Christmas. They can feel it in a way they’ve heard in stories – because Spirit does what it can to help us mortals recognize there is so much more to our universe than what we can see with our eyes.

A scuffling of reindeer hooves heard so clearly in a higher consciousness moment between child and spirit – there is nothing more real than that.

I am fortunate to have had enough otherwise inexplicable magical experiences to allow me to not entirely grow up into an unbelieving adult. And it is because I believe, that I heard the crash on the roof and scuffling of hooves in the wee hours of Christmas this year. It is because I still believe that, (after listening briefly in an adult way to make sure no one was crying), I could simply fall back asleep with a smile on my face.

If you have found the magic, celebrate. If you are searching, find a child. If there is no child nearby,  take yourself back to you childhood. Let go the thought: “It was only my imagination.”  Sometimes a simple writing trigger like the following can be all you need to reconnect:  “I remember that moment of magic when…”

Merry magic to all!

~~~~~
Ps. Those magical experiences I mentioned? I just couldn’t let those stories go unwritten: “Beyond All Imaginings – a magical memoir”

 

Children are brilliant… how to learn from them

Children are brilliant. Adults… not so much. Sorry.

We’ve forgotten that if we put a tutu on our head for a wig, and an oversize blazer around our waist, we can shift our thinking into that of a mermaid. And if a mermaid were thinking through our problems, ideas, ways of being.. she certainly would trigger some unique ideas. Way better ideas. If we kept the wig and blazer on, we might even turn those ideas into actions!

 

Hauntings and Heroes

Almost six months since the launch of Writerly Kits; the third kit is out; and oh, what a learning curve.

Need a brain workout? Start up a new business!

It’s been a roller coaster, but each time the kit is put together and sent out, I feel pretty good about it. When writers share how the kits and contents are working for them, I do feel like I’m on the right path.

I know the challenges of starting and finishing written works – both my own, and my clients. I also know that those stories haunting to be told can only be told by the hauntee!

And most of all? I know the almost indescribable feeling of holding that published book in hand. I know – that’s lazy of me. I really ought to take more time to describe the feeling. For now, here’s a little link to a brief moment when a box of my books arrived!  Right here.

All of this is why I am passionate to support writers to get to their books. And now I’m happy to reveal Kit # 3 –

Hauntings and Heroes.

May it support writers to get their damn books done, too.

 

This classy and magical kit arrived at the perfect time of year to for writers to make friends with their creative monsters and the book that haunts to be written.

What’s Included:

Birchwood Writerly Box: a treasure all on it’s own. Designed and crafted by Kyle Rankin at Kamloops Makerspace. Supporting our creative community!

100 Demon Dialogues by Lucy Bellwood: This illustrated book is so inline with our Novel Minds Process – the process that uses your imagination to explore, discover and play with the characters in your head. Writerly subscibers will love, and relate to, Lucy’s demons so much that I’m sure they’ll soon get to love the nasty little inner critics in their mind, plus give much more credit to the hero who can get them to their creative process more often and more easily! Also, the cover of this book is extraordinary: Inspiration for future covers for the writers.

Author’s Letter from Lucy Bellwood: Such an authentic letter from one writer to another, about her life as a writer. Written from a geranium-studded balcony as she tours with her new book.

Almost Blank Notebook: During Nanowrimo, or anytime, practise the technique of Lucy Bellwood. Comes with random quotes. We trust that synchronicity makes sure the quotes are the right ones for each kit recipient.

Singing Wands: Pure magic to clear the way for writing or for life. Each one unique in it’s look and it’s sound. Incredibly grateful that the creator, Bip Nelson, supported our writers in this beautiful way.

Porcelain Writerly Candle Pot: Made with love by the curator, who is also a ceramic artist. Our writerly ship, cogs, damn book done may be found on each one, highlighted with 24 kt fire-on gold. Nothing like lighting a candle to mark the start of a writing session. Comes with silver and gold teacandles.

Raven Keychain: A charming bronze keychain with a quote from Alice in Wonderland. A nice reminder that you are a writer, no matter what is going on in your day.

Inky Sisu Editing Tips: A great collection of tips from professional editor, Leena Niemela, to keep in mind as writers head into their writing, plus what is handy to know when it is time to get their book edited.

A pen, of course! From our ever growing collection of ‘great pen’ finds.

Wellness Teas: A collection of organic teas to provide a little balance to all the coffee writers are likely to drink during Nanowrimo!

Best Damn Licorice Ever: I was stunned by how delectable Panda All Natural Licorice is! For those who don’t love licorice, we recommended it be used as a bribe for beta readers, editors or small children.

Theobroma Chocolate Bar: Yummy and organic, a treat to celebrate writing times! Or, you know, maybe the minute the kit is open.

S.I.P.s: A collection of unique writing tips, triggers, and inspiration to keep you writing, especially handy when one feels stuck.