#Permaculture Orchestra

[madwickedawesome]

albums to cover every basic need

i would really like to feel like a plant experiencing photosynthesis and transpiration: mother earth's plantasia

i would really like to feel like a variety of bugs scuttling around and getting through bug life: music for bugs

i would really like to feel like im floating through the world peacefully and in a dreamlike state: wet land

i would really like to feel like im going on a lovely walk surrounded by warm sun and vibrant flora: penguin cafe orchestra

i would really like to feel like a suave hacker feeling very smart and very resourceful: permaculture

i would really like to feel like a cat laying in a warm sunny spot: still life

i would really like to feel like im the size of snugglepot and cuddlepie: entomongaku (& etmgkii)

i would really like to feel like an underwater creature swimming along with very few cares in the world: episodes in oceanography (& eioii)

i would really like to feel like im driving through the city late at night with the windows down: shame and forgiveness

i would really like to feel like im very groovily picking dandelions in a calm field: flower lane

[taimio]

Unleashing the Secrets to Successful Permaculture Gardening: A Journey Towards Sustainable Harvests

Permaculture gardening is an innovative approach to creating a sustainable and self-sufficient ecosystem in your garden. The term "permaculture" was coined by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the 1970s, and it combines the words "permanent" and "agriculture.” The goal of permaculture gardening is to design a resilient and productive landscape that works in harmony with nature, rather than against it.In a permaculture garden, every element has a purpose and supports the overall ecosystem. Permaculture gardening is about more than just planting a few vegetables; it’s a holistic approach to gardening that encompasses everything from soil health to water management, plant selection, and even the integration of animals. By mimicking the way nature works, permaculture gardens can thrive with minimal human intervention and provide a wealth of benefits for both the gardener and the environment.As we face increasing environmental challenges, such as climate change and habitat loss, permaculture gardening offers a practical and sustainable solution to many of these issues. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the principles of permaculture gardening, the benefits it provides, and how you can transform your garden into a thriving, eco-friendly oasis.

Mastering Permaculture Gardening: A Journey to Sustainable Abundance

As I ventured into the world of permaculture gardening, I quickly discovered that it was more than just a hobby – it was a way of life. *Permaculture is a design system that aims to create sustainable and regenerative ecosystems, mimicking the patterns found in nature.* With dirt-covered hands and a newfound passion, I embarked on a journey to unlock the secrets of this ancient practice.

One of the first lessons I learned was the importance of observation. *By taking the time to truly understand my land, its unique microclimates, and the flow of energy within it, I gained invaluable insights into how to create a harmonious and productive garden.* It was like peering through a window into the intricate dance of nature, and I couldn't help but be captivated by its beauty.

Instead of battling against nature, permaculture taught me to work with it. *I discovered the power of companion planting, where certain plants help one another thrive by deterring pests, improving soil quality, or providing shade.* It was like witnessing a beautiful symphony unfold before my eyes, with each plant playing a unique role in the orchestra of the garden.

Permaculture gardening is not just about growing plants; it's about fostering a deep connection with the earth and living in harmony with the natural world.

Another key principle of permaculture is maximizing the use of space. *I found myself utilizing vertical gardening techniques, planting vibrant climbers like beans and cucumbers that not only provided shade but also maximized the yield from my limited garden area.* It was like discovering a secret treasure chest hidden within the vertical realm, where every inch of space had the potential to produce abundance.

But permaculture gardening is not without its challenges. *I faced my fair share of setbacks, from unexpected pest invasions to unpredictable weather patterns.* However, through these trials, I learned resilience and the importance of adapting to the ever-changing nature of the garden, just as nature adapts to the changing seasons.

One of the most rewarding aspects of permaculture gardening is watching the garden flourish and evolve over time. *I witnessed the transformation of a barren plot of land into a thriving ecosystem teeming with life, from buzzing bees to colorful butterflies.* It was a testament to the power of patience, perseverance, and the profound impact we can have on the world around us.

In conclusion, permaculture gardening has been a transformative journey that goes far beyond simply growing plants. *It has taught me to slow down, observe, and listen to the whispers of nature, while simultaneously empowering me to become an active steward of the land.* So, if you're ready to embark on a sustainable adventure filled with abundant harvests and a deep connection to the Earth, it's time to delve into the world of permaculture gardening.

For more insights on mastering permaculture gardening, check out the related article here.

Learn more about gardening with Taim.io!

[secretaryoftheinvisible]

Splinter Orchestra

[floatingbook]

Exploration list #75

Some things to read, watch or listen to, and then ponder.

Nathalie Stutzmann leading the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra [video].

A piece of advice we should all take to heart [tip].

On permaculture, gardening and self-sufficiency (x) [book list].

“You are the movement.” [essay]

This incredible gathering of colorful knowledge (x) [website].

Every woman contains multitudes [essay].

[mintchipnicecream]

as a rudimentary philosophical orchestra full of particularly snazzy instruments, it was destined to be overemphasized with lots of brass. the clarinet player knows much and desires much, as well. in the tradition of the bassoon, there are energies that seep up the stairs to clearly keep up with the triumphs of permaculture. it’s informed that we could know better, we could write the tree-full notices on the bark of these oaks. the understanding of the restless person is secretly dumped into the pails of the past, with cashew milk and guacamole to buttress our festive nights. celebratory creations aside, we fell right at home with the plain perceptions and knew that the ghosts would be out tonight.

[sidsimpatico]

I am Sid Simpatico. I learned to ride the unicycle 33 years ago. I'm a professional Joyscout, performer, and artist at large. I'm preparing for the most intense adventure that I've ever set my sights on; I'm going to attempt a global unicycle journey.  I plan to ride my uni in every country in the world!  I will endeavor to lead off this adventure by spending a few months in Berlin training and workshoppping my busking show. I'm currently training nearly every day, at the Wall Museum East Side Gallery. I'm currently perfecting my stalls with one foot on the pedal, dancing on the unicycle, and riding backwards.

 Preceding this journey, for eleven incredible years I was a professional acrobat, dancer, and cheerleader on 3 ft tall stilts (I was 9'2") in the March Fourth Band www.marchfourth.com. I got to pump up the crowd and learn advanced acrobatics with a team of world class rock stars.  Early on in those years, I got rid of my car and brought my unicycle along on the tour bus. I performed in 9 countries with March Fourth, including performances at the FIFA World Cup events in Germany in 2006, Amsterdam, China, Burning Man, Blackcomb & Whistler, Marseille France, and the Turks & Caicos Islands.  In China, the troupe performed 11 shows in 14 days; March Fourth was invited to serve as diplomats fostering cultural exchange between the USA and China.  We traded places with the Kung Fu Shao Lin monks and an ancient Chinese instrument orchestra. For the last year I lived in my truck between California and New Mexico. I made a wind chime installation, built a scale model of a Victorian house in the basement the historical Old United States Mint in San Francisco, unicycled in a tourism commercial for The Moscone Center, and was a set dresser for a five million dollar French chic scene in a five storey tent in top of a parking garage made entirely of cardboard for the opening of the new Hermes Boutique in Palo Alto, California. I also helped with a renewal project at a queer sanctuary in New Mexico for nearly four months, that had been devastated by a fire. Whilst there, I learned about permaculture gardening methods, dug terraced beds along two hillsides. Built stone retaining walls after digging them out of the ground and hauling six tonnes of them from nearby forests, made a reflecting pond and ceremonial fire pit, cut and arranged dozens of wildflower arrangements, harvested and cooked food from the gardens I built, decorated the main hall for a wedding, and reorganized the other common areas. I also built altars in various places on the land, and learned how to dig out mud clay and process it into the traditional pueblo bricks that the native American tribes use for building houses.

 I grew up in Oregon, Malawi (Africa) and Guam. I'm not your average American, but rather, a global nomad.  So far, I've been to 50 countries on 6 continents. My wanderlust is insatiable.  I want to go, see, do, explore, taste, touch and learn about all cultures and countries. I'm an avid nature enthusiast, and have been called an animal whisperer. My family always stopped the car to identify every single bird that crossed our path - everywhere we went - even the LBJs (Little Brown Jobbies).  

 I'm also a performance artist, who's making up for lost time on the dance floor and stage. You see... I was raised in a cult that forbade dancing! So, now, I dance s much as possible. I've performed in various drag and cabaret shows as many different characters, on and off the stage.

[briellebataillephotography]

SO HYPED to say that there is less than 1 week until the 13th annual SONIC BLOOM! Finding & falling in love at, making friends, learning, growing, and working for SONIC BLOOM has absolutely been one of the greatest challenges yet most fulfilling joys in my life so far. 2018 will be my 6th year in a row at the festival and my second year as OFFICAL PROMO TEAM STAFF! I will be at the festival creating the INSTAGRAM STORY for the weekend. Find me at the festival to get blasted on social media.

As a longtime festival goer, I have a nice list of what I am calling my “Festival Pro Tips” including a couple pieces of advice when it comes to surviving and THRIVING the SONIC BLOOM experience.

It is also important to note, that no matter how hard I attempt to prepare in the best possible way, each festival I go to is truly a unique adventure full of plenty of surprises that can usually neither be planned nor properly packed for in advance. So consider my tips a gentle nudge in the direction of success.

Ultimately how much fun you have a seems to have more to do with your attitude and your willingness to SURRENDER TO THE FLOW & GRACEFULLY BLOOM into each magical moment of the experience. 

  MANIFESTATION MEDIA’S FESTIVAL PRO TIPS:

  #1 – TAKE BUS TO SHOW!

Looking for the best way to get to the festival from the Denver area? Join the party on the way to the party. The Homies at BTS are doing rides from Denver’s Union Station directly to Hummingbird Ranch.

Save Gas. Save Lives. Save Earth. 

>>> GRAB A BUS TICKET HERE <<< 

#2 – GRAB AN EARLY ENTRY PASS 

Arrive early on WEDNESDAY to get the best possible camping spot and settle into your space before the crowd hits to actually enjoy the first day of the festival. 

>>> GRAB AN EARLY ENTRY TICKET HERE <<< 

#3 – GO VIP 

Arrive early and get the best of the best in camping access, beverages, food, a merch package & MORE! 

>>> GRAB A VIP TICKET HERE <<< 

  #4 – VISIT THE OASIS BATH HOUSE 

Plan in advance to take a hot shower and maybe even get a massage before hitting the dance floor Saturday night. In my experience taking the time to refresh and take care of yourself is 100% WORTH IT. Step onto the dance floor feeling INVIGORATED and ready to DANCE ALL NIGHT! 

#5 – DOWNLOAD THE FESTIVAL APP & PRINT MULTIPLE DAILY SCHEDULES AT HOME (Attached below) 

Keep one schedule at your camp and the other one in your bag or pocket for easy dance floor access. 

>>> DOWNLOAD APP HERE <<<

  #6 – BRING A HEADLAMP/FLASHLIGHT + EXTRA BATTERIES

While the primary festival areas will be lighted by an amazing glow of magical art installations, stage lighting, and bright generator powered lighting, the porta potties and the late night/early morning walk back to your campsite could be dark and treacherous. The festival is held on a ranch in the “Rocky Mountains” therefore is rocky and rugged terrain. TAKE IT SLOW and BRING A FLASHLIGHT to avoid dangerous travel and scary potty situations. 

#7 – BRING A RE-USABLE WATER CONTAINER & DRINK LOTS OF WATER

Colorado’s hot and dry climate + high elevation is a recipe for dehydration if you are not fully aware of your water intake. Water is free and available at various locations throughout the festival site so take full advantage and drink as much as you can. If you are concerned about the quality of the water (as many are) consider grabbing a bottle with a filter built into it. Another idea to consider is to bring a refillable 1-5 gallon jug to keep back at camp so you don’t always have to go to the water stations for a refill. 

#8 – BRING QUALITY CAMPING AND OUTDOOR PROTECTION – DOUBLE CHECK ALL CAMPING GEAR BEFORE YOU ARRIVE.

Make sure you don’t forget things like stakes for your tent as high wind conditions may exist and you 100% DO NEED to fully stake down all tents. Camping gear that is in good shape, Sunblock + Aloe Vera Gel, Hats, Tarps, Raincoats, comfortable Sneakers AND/OR Boots, Sandals and so many more things should be considered when packing for a multiple-day adventure at Hummingbird Ranch.

 >>> REVIEW THIS CAMPING CHECKLIST OF IMPORTANT ITEMS TO BRING!<<

#9 – READ BOTH THE HEALTH & SAFETY TIPS AND THE FAQ’S ON SONIC BLOOM WEBSITE! 

#10 – FOLLOW THE RULES!

Everybody comes to SONIC BLOOM to have a great time, so do your part by following these simple guidelines to ensure your experience is as good as it possibly can be. KEY ITEMS HERE – NO GLASS, NO WEAPONS, & NO PETS!

#11 – BRING CASH & KEEP IT SAFE ON YOUR PERSON!

There will not be an ATM at the Box Office so you will need to be 100% prepared prior to arrival on site with your tickets. The ATM that does exist inside the festival is expensive and not always realiable in terms of being a great solution for getting cash. I highly recommend grabbing the cash you need prior to arrival and keeping it on your person.

#12- LEAVE YOUR PRIZED VALUABLES AT HOME & ONLY PACK IN & OUT WHAT YOU REALLY NEED!!!

I would NEVER RECOMMEND that you leave any type of valuables at your tent or campsite. Unfortunately every year people get robbed at the festival. It breaks my heart that people among us that would steal but the truth is the truth. Keep your campsite clean and tidy by only bringing what you really need to the festival. Keep expensive yet necessary items on your person and leave all other valuables locked in your car or at home. This year we also have LOCKERS available so if you don’t have a way to lock your stuff please consider this as a solution.

>>> RESERVE A LOCKER HERE <<< 

  MANIFESTATION MEDIA’S TOP SEVEN MUSIC ACTS TO SEE AT SONIC BLOOM 2018 

#1 – SONIC BLOOM ORCHESTRA

The SONIC BLOOM Orchestra is one of our favorite features each year! We can’t wait to see the magic that @dirtwire #Zilla, @toubabkrewe, @kaminanda and members of @sunsquabi, @papadosio & MORE create together under the Colorado skies!

SUNDAY ON THE BLOOM STAGE 1-2AM 

  #2 – YAIMA

I am very excited to see one of my favorite groups in the world, Seattle based, Yaima, at this year’s bloom! This incredible medicine music duo has been amazing to heal too and watch transform over the last few years since I met them one night at Cervantes when they opened for The Human Experience. I am so elated they were finally booked for SONIC BLOOM. So much love to Pepper Proud for being an amazing friend and supporter of Manifestation Media over the last few years.

FRIDAY 8-9:15PM ON THE HUMMINGBIRD STAGE

  #3 – VIBESQUAD

Don’t miss VibeSquad’s ONLY COLORADO performance of 2018. After learning through his recent video post WHY HE STOPPED DOING VIBESQUAD I am incredibly inspired to support this longtime SONIC BLOOM artist as he continues to share his love for live music production exclusively with our community.

SATURDAY 8:15-9:30 ON THE BLOOM STAGE

  #4 – Maddy O’Neal

A local Colorado “lady of the moment” this set is one of my MUST SEE’s as I have truly enjoyed watching Maddy’s career evolve past prior collaboration “Krooked Drivers” and I love her fresh solo sounds. Let this uplifting hip-hop infusion of oldskool tracks with light and lifted electronic beats surprise and delight you.

FRIDAY 9:30-10:45 ON THE HUMMINBIRD STAGE (right after YAIMA)

#5 – LIQUID STRANGER 

Are you ready to let the “Weird & Wonderful” sounds of liquid’s “freeform bass” rock your world? I know I sure am. This one may just be one of the most anticipated of the festival and as the Thursday night headliner, I anticipate that it should set a great tone for the rest of the weekend at Hummingbird Ranch.

THURSDAY 12:45-2AM ON THE BLOOM STAGE 

#6 – DIGITAL ETHOS 

Have you guys listened to his Beat Lab Radio 127 kick of show SoundCloud mix? I have had this on repeat for like a year now so this one is purely based on hoping that his SONIC BLOOM set is similar in magic to this SoundCloud mix.

SUNDAY 8:15-9:15PM ON THE MEADOW STAGE 

#7 – JADE CICADA

I had the pleasure of meeting Jade Cicada & his management team in Nashville, TN last August as a muggy rain began to fall outside of the War Memorial Auditorium at the 1st ever “Deep Tropics” EDM festival that I worked as the VIP coordinator at. I remember talking to the crew about SONIC BLOOM and dreaming together that he would get to play at the festival this year. While I wasn’t “really” involved in his being booked for this year’s bloom I do feel like it was that rainy night in Nashville that we put the idea out to the universe that I wanted him to make his debut at bloom this year AND SO IT IS. THE MAGIC OF MANIFESTATION IS REAL! Just simply ASK the universe for what you want and watch the magic unfold before your very eyes.

FRIDAY 12-1:15AM ON THE HUMMINGBIRD STAGE 

You can preview the rest of this year’s stellar music lineup from talent from around the world here!

LIVE PAINTERS

CLICK THIS LINK TO SEE THE FULL LINEUP FOR ALL OF THE AMAZING ARTIST AND COLLABORATORS COMING TO THE FESTIVAL THIS YEAR!

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  WORKSHOPS, YOGA, &  PERMACULTURE SCHEDULE 

MUSIC SCHEDULE  

PERMACULTURE SCHEDULE 

  GET CONNECTED:

JOIN THE SONIC BLOOM MUSIC FESTIVAL COMMUNITY GROUP

TICKETS & INFO: sonicbloomfestival.com FACEBOOK: facebook.com/sonicbloom RSVP:http://bit.ly/sbloom2018 APPS: http://bit.ly/2is3dGv  TWITTER: twitter.com/sonic_bloom INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/sonic_bloom_ YOUTUBE: youtube.com/user/sonicbloomfestival SPOTIFY: play.spotify.com/user/sonicbloomfestival SOUNDCLOUD: soundcloud.com/sonicbloomfestival

Manifestation Media’s SONIC BLOOM 2018 Festival Pro Tips + TOP 7 MUST SEE MUSIC ACTS + Full Festival Lineup & Schedule! SO HYPED to say that there is less than 1 week until the 13th annual SONIC BLOOM…

[thomasreedtn]

Loose Ends, New Year: Mercury Retrograde in January 2017

Happy 2017! I hope you’re all enjoying the shift from a “9” year of completions into a “1” year of new beginnings. It’s a little more fluid than that due to Mercury Retrograde still in effect until January 8th, and then with its decreasing shadow period for awhile afterwards. As with any external energy influence, you can align your attitude and tasks with the energies in order to create more ease and flow in your own experience. Traditional advice says, “Don’t make contracts or start anything new in a Mercury Retrograde period,” but it all depends on how you embrace or resist those influences. In my own life, I’ve continued tying up loose ends since December 19th, including “tying the Celtic Knot on Yule,” which David and I consciously chose for both the return to light aspect and for the sense of completion at this level of our spiral journey together.

Permaculture Design Certification

Some readers might also recall that I began my Permaculture Design Certification way back in 2015, shortly before the opportunity to rent the house next door appeared. That creative expansion added many exciting and busy months to my completion of Permaculture Education’s excellent online course, including another yard to begin designing and sheet mulching, but I fully planned to finish my coursework and final project by February 2016. I did finish all the coursework, but a commissioned portal painting, house guests, and the sudden and unexpected eight week whirlwind in Pennsylvania caring for my father in his last weeks and then moving my mom into her new life in a new home and getting their old house ready for sale meant another huge delay.

Those two months in Pennsylvania borrowed energy from the next five months, which also coincided with garden season and some much needed getaways with David. We had a lovely summer and fall! I wouldn’t change a thing, but I primarily needed to rest, recharge and renew. Tackling a major left and right brain final project while also gardening, processing bumper crops, and doing intense phone sessions just seemed like it would push me over the edge. I might have been able to complete the project then, but not to my own standards, and it would have felt like a burden rather than an accomplishment. As my June 2016 deadline neared, I requested more time.

Dr. Alan Enzo at http://permacultureeducation.com was kind enough to extend the usual year’s time for course completion due to the exceptional circumstances of my 2016, and I’m so glad I waited until I could again enjoy preparing the final project, as it was a lot of work. I used our yard and both houses as the permaculture project, and I took the opportunity to “stack functions” by beginning to learn the software program Scrivener while writing the text portion of my project. (I’ll do a separate post on Scrivener once I have a better handle on the software, but I found it invaluable for creating and organizing a complex and many-layered recap of all the moving parts and functions of our growing permaculture haven.) I promised myself I would complete this PDC final project in 2016, and I managed to submit both final text and design drawing on New Year’s Eve day:

The actual file is quite large and involved, with over twenty pages of text exploring and explaining the coded drawing, but this 11 x 14″ sketch gives you some idea of the project’s scope. I won’t receive my grade and actual certification for about two more weeks, as a group of people analyze the drawing and text, but along with helping my father peacefully pass into the next world and leveraging my mother into her thriving new life, I consider finishing this PDC course one of my biggest accomplishments of 2016. Right under the wire!

Kalamazoo New Year’s Eve Festival

Later that afternoon, David and I drove up to Kalamazoo, Michigan to for another mini-honeymoon at the downtown Radisson. We love Kalamazoo with its hugely creative populace, ample vegan and vegetarian food options, and the sense of community; however, we had no idea how amazing we’d find their 30th annual New Year’s Eve Festival. The Radisson included buttons to access all the downtown events: concerts across all sorts of venues, food, fun for kids of all ages, fireworks and a ball drop at midnight. Unsure of the weather, we had bought backup tickets to some concerts at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (a concert venue for the famous Bell’s Brewery), but we were so blown away by the talent and whimsy of the downtown concerts that we only spent about a half hour at Bell’s.

We explored the historic Ladies Library Association, where all the volunteers dressed in Victorian garb amidst stained glass windows and old books. David snapped this shot of me reading a Maurice Sendak book I found on the shelf while awaiting Kalamazoo’s Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra. He’s been playing with filters, so my hair looks much redder than usual — even more than it does in bright sunshine — and my black onyx necklace looks white; however, this photo gives you a sense of the magical storybook feel of the place. My faery combat boots worked well with the Victorian theme!

We learned during the concert that the Kalamazoo Ladies Library Association is the oldest building in the United States continually owned and operated by women — a landmark since 1871. Also, the original Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra had played on that very same stage a hundred years ago, and the library maintains a photo of that event, which made Saturday night’s concert extra special and time warp-y.

Next, we made our way to the Baptist Church, which we had noticed over Thanksgiving weekend on a Kalamazoo trip with my mom. From the outside, the all white and blue building looks more like it belongs in Greece, so David and I were keen to get a look inside. What better opportunity than hearing traditional Irish music on New Year’s Eve? Below, you can see some of the Gothic sanctuary and organ, along with the band, “Whiskey Before Breakfast.” The music was fun, but we both agreed that the best part of the show was a three-year-old audience member jigging and rockin’ out on the balcony. That little guy loved the music even more than I did, and his pure exuberance delighted many:

Another unexpected highlight for us came right after the Irish music that also featured some lovely poetry by (Scottish) Robert Burns. We decided to stay for the next act, a NYC band called “The Founders,” which featured a Kalamazoo native on trumpet and piano, along with a violinist and bassist. They described themselves as eclectic and classically trained, so we had no idea what to expect. Oh. My. Goodness. Were we in for a treat!

We sat spellbound as this talented trio played Bach’s Agnes Dei “as though Bach grew up in New Orleans.” In other songs, the songwriter violinist sang while playing violin, and he also recited Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Bells” poem very fast, very dramatically to original background music — a Kalamazoo nod and wink to that famous Bell’s we would head to next. They created their own unique fusion covers of the Beatles, Radiohead and more. David and left the concert in silence, literally stunned by such unusual and delightful talent that brought old to new and back again.

We did head to Bell’s for awhile but towards midnight decided to make our way back to Bronson Park to check out the ball drop and fireworks. I have not been to a ball drop on New Year’s Eve since I went to NYC in 1994, so that was another cycle bringing old into new. Normally, fireworks bother me, but between earplugs, a cozy hat with ear flaps and pure joy, I did fine this time. They put on quite a show: we kept saying, “OK, this must be the finale.” But wait … there’s more! In total, the fireworks lasted a little over fifteen minutes, and they were truly spectacular. It was so great to watch such a diverse group of people of all ages having fun and celebrating together.

All those walks through the cold worked up an appetite, since we had finished our veggie sushi dinner over six hours ago. Where, oh where, would we find food we could eat at this hour?! Well, it turned out we found food about 10 feet away at the Gorilla Gourmet food truck, which offered curried carrot soup after midnight. Seriously? Back in my pre-brain-injury sales job days, I used to plan business trips around a chef friend’s curried carrot soup offering on Tuesdays. I’ve not had one that good since. Until this one. Holy yum! David also got a veggie quesadilla (not vegan, but with homemade slaw and total yum), so we settled into 2017 with big smiles, new takes on blasts from the past, and very happy bellies.

New Year’s Day on the Kal-Haven Trail

The next morning, we slept in, checked out, and headed over to The Crow’s Nest, one of our favorite vegan friendly restaurants in Kalamazoo, which just happened to be open on New Year’s Day. (OK, I did a literal happy dance when I found out they were open.) It turned out I was not the only happy dancing would-be eater. The line stretched all the way down the stairs, out the door, and halfway down the block. And that was just to turn in your name to get on the list. After awhile, we noticed people in line drinking coffee and eating bagels and pastries while they waited. As we traced the trail, we discovered a nearby bagel shop, where we got tea and bagels instead. Yum! Plus, we finished within fifteen minutes instead of the estimated hour and a half to two hours for The Crow’s Nest.

We had chosen Kalamazoo for New Year’s as part of our intending for 2017, and we wanted more nature than waiting. After bagels, we drove to the Kal-Haven Trail, covered in deep snow at this time of year, but an actual connection bike route between Kalamazoon and South Haven, right on Lake Michigan. We enjoyed the fresh air, crisp whiteness, as well as all the friendly dog walkers and doggies. David snapped some photos along the way:

Still Revising and Reclaiming in the Tail End of Mercury Retrograde

Yesterday brought several more very long cycles to completion, with the arrival of author Mike Clelland‘s completed draft of the chapter on me to be included in his follow-up book to “The Messengers,” which I reviewed here. This marked the end of a year and a half of story sharing, questions, answers, writing and revisions, and it involves owl synchronicities that go back to 2010, 2006, 2002, and 1998. More than that, Mike’s chapter explores events I have never publicly shared — events dating back to 1987, which completed in this past 29-year Saturn Return Cycle of the 2016 time I spent in Pennsylvania. Tremendous healing occurred through emailing and telling the stories to Mike, as well as in his reworking them into something suitable for a single chapter in a book that explores many other owl synchronicities, UFO’s and paranomal experiences.

Mike Clelland is a rare bird. Probably an owl, LOL, but seriously, if he’s put anywhere near the time, attention and compassionate truth seeking efforts into the other dozen chapters of this new book, it promises to be a quiet and potent tribute to the Mystery with a capital M, as well as a huge catharsis for many healers and experiencers. The back and forth correspondence included so many synchronicities that Mike needed to stop collecting new information and only work with a sliver of the old, but highlights occurred when each draft section arrived as I was either sitting with or on the phone with someone else involved in that part of the story.

Many behind the scenes conversations discussed details of my 2010 divorce, during which owl synchronicities ramped up very high … so I processed the surreal nature of my previous marriage and that magical and Divine intervention divorce time in a deeper, final closure kind of way, just as I was synchronously planning my Winter Solstice marriage to David. Some very cool sync winks that did not make it into the final draft included my friend Karen walking in nature as David and I were getting married and finishing right at my birthday time stamp, and Karen suddenly feeling a powerful sense of love and blessing flow from her and her animal friends to us. Then, she heard a great horned owl hoot at 5:55, which according to Doreen Virtue’s Angel Numbers 101, means “Huge changes are rumbling throughout your entire life!” Hundreds of miles away, David and I also noted the clock at 5:55, as we drove to dinner, expressing our sense of huge change and blessings.

Karen’s text about the owl came through the next morning, right after I sent her the marriage photo of us with my birthday time stamp. Later that afternoon, I got excited texts from my mom about finding beautiful, unusual feathers on her driveway on her way out for a walk. My mom felt certain these were owl feathers and took them as a huge sign of blessing on our marriage. Mike asked for a photo of the feathers so he could definitively identify those, but by the time my mom got back home, the feathers had blown away. She started to doubt herself, but we have both had so many owl synchronicities related to my birthday or to big changes in my life that we figured they “probably” were owl feathers.

The next morning I received a very excited text from my mom that she had been awakened by “unmistakable” and “oh, so comforting” owl hoots that morning. I researched the exact calls she described and found the cry followed by three hoots to be the sounds exchanged between mated male and female great horned owls. This mysterious synchronicity provided such a beautiful and happy ending to a long and winding 29-year journey. As we move through this final week of Mercury Retrograde and into the freshness of a universal “1” year, I feel so grateful, blessed and awed by all that has transpired. I feel my own Neverending Story pulsing through life, and I look forward to the next sequence, tale and characters.

Wishing all of you a magical and mysterious 2017!

      from Thomas Reed https://laurabruno.wordpress.com/2017/01/04/loose-ends-new-year-mercury-retrograde-in-january-2017/

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