Waldorf Class

I am saving this letter here, so that I may remember my 1st expierience with Waldorf education. It is a thank you letter to Olivia's teachers. Might not mean much to someone reading this blog, but its everything to me

Hi Ladies,
I hope this email finds you both doing well. I wanted to thank you again for the amazing 6 week introduction to Waldorf. I feel blessed to have been given a chance for both Olivia and I to participate. It really inspired me in so many ways. Thank you for having people share their copies of "Beyond the Rainbow Bridge!." What a beautiful continuation to our class, and I've had a complete change of heart/spirit/mind after reading this book. I too feel like a slave at times to the media, and what Olivia should have in order to excel. The one part about the book that reasonates so deeply in my core is the part where the author discussed that children need very little toys as they imitate life in their play. It all really clicked for me that they need items that can be many things, such as seashells, blocks, etc, and the way that they imitate life in their play is so beautiful that electronic toys just disturb a genuis in motion. This may seem fundamental to both of you, but for a parent who is just starting a journey towards natural parenting, this insight is enormous and life changing. Instead of removing every plastic toy at once, I've simply incorporated some baskets with items reccommended, and each day I am making her play area's less crowded and more into area's where she can expand on and imitate daily life. Wow...I finally feel a peace in my heart as I enter this whole new world. Thanks to both of you for meeting me at the beginning of my journey, and proving a beautiful space for me to see Waldork in all its beauty. During Lilac the day that changed me the most and gave me an "aha" moment was the last day when we painted water colors. There was something offered in the art that reasonated with me, and paved the way for my understanding of concepts in the book, such as why Kelly dampened the paper, why to use watercolors as opposed to tempura.

Olivia is still singing the songs and tales from the class. It is staying with her and I believe that's because it is authentic, and has given her something to hold on to. I can't explain the peace in my heart since being in the class and reading this book. Its as if I have finally given myself full permission to give her what is real and whole, instead of feeling a push pull with what mainstream/media is offering. I have climbed the steep part of the mountain and I'm seeing the top, and for me this is such an amazing feeling because I have been struggling between two worlds for so long. Thank you both for sharing your gifts and changing both my daughter and my life forever. We will always be impacted by our time with LCG, and I hope its just the beginning of our time with you! But if our paths don't cross next year, then know that we were so very moved by all that you provided!

Inspired and at Peace!

Archive: "What it means to be a leader"

I am archiving this article that I wrote for the Holistic Moms Newsletter.

To be a leader of HMN was at first a responsibility that seemed to big, and the shoes too large to fill. When I became silent with myself, and opened up to what this volunteer venture really is, I was moved to reconsider my initial misconceptions. Being a leader is almost like being a parent, except the cycle is shorter, but the rewards are immeasurable. To witness our group in its infancy, and see where it has grown most always touches my heart. The group is woven together by the hearts of our members, each so unique and talented, with endless energy to fight for what they believe in, all in the name of their beautiful children. To be a leader and see the souls of members open up as they discover new findings, new remedies, new slings, new cloth diapers, and new ventures, is to be part of something bigger, yet something smaller that connects us all. The word "leader" doesn't do the job justice. I am just part of this group and this collective gathering of wise women, only to have agreed at this time to give more of myself so that we can continue to grow. I feel like a member who is donating more time becuase it is my hour to keep the fires burning, and nurture the area's that need care so that we may grow into tomorrow. So that we all may wake with HMN in our community, and feel comforted by this Holistic group of women, each blossoming when we are in the presence of one another. My tribe, my friends, and my circle of life that I am proud to offer myself to at this time. When asked to become a leader I looked at it not as a "status" but as a gift and donation of myself, at this time, to ensure that we would all be able to gather in this way tomorrow, and continue our Holistic Moms Network of support. I am learning and growing each minute, as this journey has offered me education, friendship, awe, inspiration, and wonder. I look forward to the next woman stepping in to be partners with Mary, Melissa, and I, as we keep these HMN fires burning!

Ayurveda

I have been struggling with finding a sensible certification in addition to having my MSW, Something mind/body/spirit focused that I can offer my clients. I am meditating on becoming certified in Ayurveda. I am not living my best life now, and the component that is largely missing is wellness with my body. I'm going to start a ayurvedic wellness plan and see how this works for me. I was planning to get certified 3 years ago, and then heard the beautiful news of being pregnant with Olivia, so I put it aside. I am now called to have a tangible path to wellness that I can teach to others starting with myself. Something that works with who we are at our core, that isn't a struggle, a deficet, a lacking. I want to teach something that is whole, healing, graceful, gentle, trusting, honest, and is directly connected to the source of who we are. I am reconnecting with myself more each day, and the passed few years have been a path, a path back home but to a new home, which is my core of peace. I am intending to find something tangible that I can offer to others, as well as my family, friends, etc that encourages their healing and the exploration of Ayurveda is bringing me a step closer to the longing in my heart. I opened my 1st ayurvedic text 3 years ago, and it immediately spoke to me, but with all of the mental noise I ignored it, but the longing never left me. Its still here, everytime I even utter the word, its still here, the tugging sensation in the center of my core.

This space at Livingforpeace is so sacred to me, and I only post when I absolutely am convicted to post here. Its so sacred that I don't wish to allow mental noise in here. I activate my higher self when I post here, as this was created out of love in a search for love. We all need our space to create in our core of peace, and listen to our hearts longing. Trully honor what our heart is longing for. How often do we listen to our true self who is longing to open and blossom.?