2007 Comes to a Close

photo courtesy of Pingu 1963

New Year's Eve. Humans have marked time across the ages in many ways. These days we commonly use a calandar and clock to tick by our schedules and events. Today offers an opportunity to take a broadview of where we were for the last 12 months in our lives and to ponder the next year. For myself, I am closing out a year of dramatic life changes which required enormous fortitude and was filled with rare magnificent good fortune.

Here's to certainty of self and the power of love. Happy New Year.

An Army for Oranges

Courtesy of Aoife City womanchile's photos


Just a little food for thought.

A Holiday Story

photo courtesy of ABC Carpets in New York City


We were in a large, well known department store yesterday in which I rarely find myself. I usually can't take the lighting, crush and lackluster of so-so garb or the nerve-shot crowds. But there we were. It was the weekend following Christmas so the place was literally torn apart and strewn with all the brand names. It was getting late when I overheard an oddly inspirational chat between two clerks.

One exclaimed to the other that she had so many sections of clothes to re-set that she asked her husband to come in to help her and he agreed only if she agreed to have dinner out afterwards. When I asked for her assistance with a blouse on a mannequin and was shy about asking her to help me, she told me that it was no problem. In fact she said she loved her job. She said she always vows to never "do retail again" after every holiday but she said she just can't help herself.

Somewhere in this exchange is the understanding that sometimes the help of another is absolutely necessary and that although work can be completely exhausting, there is something to treasure and for which to have deep gratitude.

Who in your life is ready when you need them? And what do you love about your work, whatever that is?

A Friend at the Heart of an Angel

A little while ago I was talking to a dear friend. As we were winding up our heartfelt dialogue, I had a beautiful image come to mind. It was a huge white angel floating in clouds and in the heart-center of the angel, my friend and I were talking. It was almost as if we were in a private crystalline chat-room in which the most clear and true words were being exchanged. What a gift and a miracle of life to have this kind of experience with another human being.

Can you recall finding yourself transported by an exchange with another?

Office Hoo-doo

So many of us roll into an office every morning surrounded by other people and with an enormous amount of tasks to be accomplished in the day. We sit dutifully in our chairs, gazing a emails and various documents that speed into our hands awaiting some type of action.

I have found that having a couple of centering objects nearby, usually within easy sightlines offers a bit of cushion and grounding as the hours fly by and the demands arrive. For a while a tiny, plush hippo reminded me to be silly and at ease. Currently I have a small prayer mounted discretely nearby that reminds me of my Divine Self which helps me limit a sense of self importance and over-attachment to things out of my control. It seems I like to change the objects over time as a reflection of some aspect needing added support.

What do you have in easy sight at work that supports your sense of self?

Change the Angle

The other day my sister called with something that had upset her. When I heard what it was that bothered her about a recent interaction it seemed that the best approach would be to 're-set' or 'do-over' her approach. Not unlike taking your furniture and shifting it into a more comfortable arrangement for a better feel, a 'do-over' lets us take another angle in a moment that can have immediate results with lasting implications.

I have been impressed with how making a quick conscious decision to take another perspective, emotionally or psychologically, can change the moment and the outcome. I have learned energetic acrobatics that come in very handy in creating more life ease. Hurrah!

Graceful living

photo courtesy of J Brown & CO

Humans have an ineffable spirit when it comes to softening the harsh edges of life. You see this everywhere. Every culture, it seems, has a way of using shape, color and texture to infuse its daily objects with appeal. South American cultures, for example have perfected the use of texture and color to convey the story of object usage in terms of origination. Blankets and clothing tell stories that began hundreds of years ago. The Japanese culture is magnificent with form and decor relative to the most mundane daily object as exemplified by all the brilliant, inexpensive doo-dads of daily living.

It seems that humans are imbued with a sense of grace that extends in every aspect of life. We love giving and receiving things of beauty as if to convey an understanding that while various life events and experiences occur as a part of being alive, we can balance the challenges with creativity and sweetness.

J Brown & CO offers decor for 'a graceful way of living' and can be visited at their store in Alexandria, VA.

Love infusion

The energy infused in the objects that surround us is at constant interplay with our own energy being. That said, the clothing and jewelry we wear also carries and conveys energetic aspects that can be thoughtfully chosen each day to effect a desired interaction. This language is a fancy way of saying what has been said many times over about the effect of the interview suit, power tie, or the impact of a fabulous little black dress, for example. In reality, each day our clothing can be chosen in view of what is to be accomplished or experienced that day. People naturally take part in this dynamic as it is an aspect of humanity to interact at this level.

All of this said, I know of a jewelry designer whose own 'back story' is lovingly woven into every design she creates. Stephanie Lovi of Lovi Love creates some love-laden jewelry that is at once contemporary and vintage in many cases. There is something wonderful about wearing her jewelry. Her own conscious awareness of infusing love for herself and all of life into her work produces tangible objects that can be worn out into the world to inspire, protect and support us.

Check Lovi Love out at www.lovilove.com

Objects of Evidence

Photo courtesy of Kosmos Designs & Ideas


Have you noticed the proliferation of spiritually oriented décor objects on the market in the last twenty years? Buddhas are everywhere. Angels of all kinds line shelves. Candles are in containers printed with prayers, wishes, hopes and dreams. I have a number of these types of items sprinkled around our home. In fact, my Buddha has an orange plastic monkey sitting in its lap and is wearing a dragonfly necklace. The former was previously perched on the cocktail I was sipping in a Washington DC restaurant when my husband asked me to marry him. The latter was a gift from a friend that was brought to me from Bermuda. What is going on?

I think we make our little alters that provide us feedback about what is important in our lives. These objects provide a lantern on the path of our lives reminding us of the deep things about being in the human form. At this time in our humanity we are as a race collectively holding a more expanded consciousness that is unlike any prior time on earth.

What do you have in your home that signifies the best and most of who you are?

For some great objects of inspired decor check out Kosmos Designs & Ideas in Old Town Alexandria, VA or on the web at www.kosmosdi.com.

Deep Design

On a recent jaunt to Old Town Alexandria, Virginia I happened into Chatree’s. This is an antiques and restoration business on King Street in the mid-town area. When I asked Chatree how he came about the beautiful things in his shop, anticipating that he roves the countryside for them, he said that they simply come to him. He has every manor of furniture, lighting, wall décor, porcelain, and antique clothing.

Chatree told me that he not only restores antique furniture but he could repair porcelain and paintings with a very detailed hand and eye. He said “I can do these things right down to their molecular level”. With my ‘energetic living’ perspective this phrase captured my attention. We talked more specifically about American and European design education as it compared to his education in Thailand. What he described is that he learned every aspect of object relationship from concept, drafting and building, to art, human anatomy and ergonomics. He learned about the effect of objects in the spaces and lives they inhabit. He suggested that his learning involved every layer of object experience including the product and its proper placement in the customer’s life. The conversation in and of itself was a thing of beauty given its level of awareness and expression.

What do you have in your home that has design value on so many levels that it is a joy with which to live? It’s very likely that you have something big or small. If not, Chatree probably has something for you. Check out Chatree's at www.chatrees.com

Hair Mood

(Vase photo compliments of Random Harvest in Alexandria, Virginia)

Do you recall reading or seeing the movie Like Water for Chocolate? This is a lush tale written by Mexican novelist Laura Esquival that reveals the power of emotion when cooking. Food takes on the character of the cook right down to the thoughts and emotions being experienced. It is worth a read.

I had just such a remembrance recently when I was doing my own hair for a special event. My cell phone rang and I saw who was calling. Intuitively I knew not to pick up the phone at that very moment. For at the time I was in crucial mid scrunch. No kidding, if you have fine hair you will know of what I speak. Had I taken the call and heard what I knew I would hear, I would have made a mess of my hair.

I am reminded to thoughtfully expose myself, when it is in my control, to possibly stressful conditions when I am not in the middle of doing something special for myself or others.

To see more mood setting antiquities, check out Random Harvest at www.randomharvesthome.com

Stars and Beetles: The Nature of God

Beautiful wall decor photo compliments of Chatree's in Alexandria, VA



Most weeks I check out Rob Brezney’s Free Will Astrology. He is one of the most creatively articulate astrologers and universe ponderers of his kind (as best as I can tell). More than anything I am always moved visually by the images he posts with his crafty, literate interpretations of how I should best spend my week. I go there for some sight-food as well as consideration-candy.

This week it was suggested that I tarry over what mark I make here on earth. It does not refer to my oft flogged carbon footprint but rather what is the indication that ‘Gemgrl wuz here’. Thanks to some kind and quirky personality features and more than a bit of work in the soul embodiment arena I am just now beginning to know.

It seems that God, according to British geneticist J. B. S. Haldane had a definite interest in beetles as they make up 20% of all animals and stars given that there are 1 trillion stars per person on the planet. That’s awesome information.

What is your mark?

Check out Rob Brezney and his Free Will Astrology @ www.freewillastrology.com
To visit Chatree's go to the website at www.chatrees.com.

Partying in the Personal

At a recent party with family and friends I took sheer pleasure in layering the experience. What I mean is that just like a yummy towering confection, say a sweet English Raspberry Triffle, I added delightfully personal and especially selected elements to welcome each person to our table. The best part of all is that I had a wonderful time holding each person in mind as I made my selections. Some of the layers were for the common group and some were for individuals. I was able to play with the décor of the space as it was reflected in the wrapping paper and bows as well as the menu place cards. The gifting and welcoming feel was an apparent hit given the many dear comments I received during and after the event.

Whether it’s a party or a meal during the week, what layers can you build in that tell each person that they are loved and cherished?

What about Light and Sound?

The human nervous system is very sensitive to external stimulation. I should know. I am one of those types who will immediately hit the dimmer switch of overhead lighting as my college roommate will tell you. Too much overhead lighting gives me a sterile almost clinical sensation as if I should hop up on an exam table at any moment. My new husband can attest to my lighting proclivities. He likes to light up suddenly whereas I like to light up gently.

Sound operates in much the same way. As a kid I always noticed that adults, especially older adults, seemed to play the radio much lower than my harsh young ears preferred. I just noticed the other day driving home that now I too drop the volume to a soft comfort zone. My life is so rich and full of light and sound and a myriad of other stimulants that I have to delicately balance various parts of my nervous system across them at any one time.

If you have not already done so, consider paying a little attention to your nervous system’s daily exposures. Are you tolerating something that you can reduce or eliminate and gain some of that energy back with which you were only coping?

Harnessing People Power

I have become increasingly sensitive to the effects others have on me. I've noticed that I can be exhilarated by time spent with one person and drained by time with another. In the same way, certain people have a way of bringing peace and centeredness to a home. I recently had an important life event in which I had many people in my home at once. One person in particular provided that anchoring, quiet calm that was much needed for the occasion. Her poise and posture and softly spoken directions and utterance of affinity were the perfect elixir for spatial and emotional groundedness.

I am reminded to be thoughtful about with whom I spend time and where others are permitted in my space and in my life. Think about your life and loved ones. Do they support who you are by their presence? Be thankful if they do and consider your options if they don't.

Have Pottery Will Travel

I have given away more things than I have kept. This is true. I am not a keeper of things. At least not up until this point in my life. I’ve done a fair bit of moving about the country and prefer not to haul things around. That said, I have carried my four pieces of Rebecca Wood pottery around with me from place to place since my early adult days in Athens, GA. Her studio was (and remains) in my old Little Oconee neighborhood. The neighborhood was a funky blend of students and long time residents with homes in various stages of repair.

I use the pottery on a weekly basis as an augment to my daily dishware. I put special things on it as well as mundane things that I want to make special. When I touch or see them I get the feeling that some part of me is made manifest for that meal. I am communicating my artfulness and organic nature. The designs are simple and colorful. The pottery is made of Georgia red clay by one of last remaining hand formed pottery studios in the United States.

To visit Rebecca Wood Pottery go to www.rwoodstudio.com and tell them I said hello.

Suburban Sanctuary: It is what you make it

So much can be said for those islands of refuge known as inner city gardens. One of the most appealing I have ever seen is le Jardin des Plantes in Paris. It has an almost pre-historic feeling to it and the garden gives a sense of peace and tranquility within its tree and plant lined walkways. Very far away from Paris, I have recently moved to a suburban neighborhood. While being someone who appreciates antiquity and organicity I find my new ‘hood clipped, efficient but overall visually pleasing. I have discovered my own suburban retreat about midway around the block. While it does not begin to approach the scale and depth of Paris gardens, it does offer a breather from the sidewalks and houses all around. I even look forward to stepping into the shady path, taking a breath and feeling closed over as I drop into the woods for what is literally five minutes of walking pleasure.

Where is your mini-retreat from the urban/suburban scenery?

Go to www.aviewoncities.com/paris to see Jardin des Plantes

Butterfly Limoges: A lifetime object

Now I use my lovely Crummels butterfly Limoges as a pill and vitamin carrier when needed. But when I was a child I used the tiny vessel to safely house the British pounds and other coins my father brought me from his travels. I remember taking it out of my sock drawer every so often and carefully opening the top to reveal the money. I can recall a fascination with the places the money and Limoges represented and more personally, I imagined my father and what he was doing in those places. Some things never change. I am still fascinated with objects from other countries and I am still wondering what my father was doing.

What object have you had for many years and how has its function changed in your life? Why do you still have it?

Feeding the Appetite

I think by now we all get how important it is to eat a balanced and nutritious diet. There are tons of books on the subject and an enormous array of cooking shows on TV. Have you noticed how absolutely gorgeous the dishes are in the photos and at the end of the shows? The food designers set the visual scene for the reader or audience by selecting the right shape, texture and color of serving dish and placing it on the just perfect table top adorned with a glass of wine or some other appealing item. A simple heirloom tomato sliced neatly on a beautifully glazed pottery square and drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil is enough to inspire poetry.

In the same vein, think about offering yourself and your family this layer of richness. Collect visually pleasing serving dishes and eat-ware. This type of collection can begin at Goodwill and end at Prada. Anyone can take part in feasting to the fullest and creating an atmosphere of plenty which goes a long way toward creating satiation so necessary in a healthy diet.

Livin' in the Skin

A very good friend of mine lifted the phrase ‘livin’ in the skin’ from a former acquaintance of ours many years ago. Over the years she would toss this phrase out after explaining some complex living circumstance that befell someone she knew. Eventually I picked up the colorful expression.

‘Livin’ in the skin’ suggests some acceptance that what we go through in life is simply a part of bringing more soul into the body in our lifetime. It gives a solemn and artful nod to that which occurs that we at once withstand and which expands us all in the same moment.

A Contemporary Painting Tale

Cundy’s Painting

The painting of Cundy by American sculptor and painter Stan Mullins is one of my most beloved objects. The funny thing about this painting is that I am the self-appointed steward of the painting. My desire is to give it to one of Cundy’s children when they are of age and would like to have it. The painting itself is not for the feint of heart. It is a somewhat distorted and harsh portrait of a woman, who in real life is tender and soft prone only, when called for, to a sharp angle or two. I have moved it from place to place giving it prominence in many small spaces in which it tended to suck up a lot of air. Guests not used to this type of display often remarked some more kindly than others.

I love it because it reminds me of my young adult years in Georgia. It also reminds me of that aspect of my own beauty that is less than sunny. It is as if I live comfortably with an uncomfortable image in order to demonstrate my own acceptance for myself. The painting also comes with a fantastic story of ‘boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy and girl marry others and then finally, divorces all around, boy and girl marry each other’ coupled with ‘the painting that would not stay away’. That’s right. The painting made the circuit until it landed in my safe hands. Ahhh, I love art.
To see more of Stan Mullins' work go to www.stanmullins.com

Evocative Objects

"We think with the objects we love; we love the objects we think with" says Sherry Turkle, author of Evocative Objects. She writes about the way in which objects inform our daily lives in this series of essays written by scientists, humanists, artists, and designers. "These essays reveal objects as emotional and intellectual companions that anchor memory, sustain relationships, and provoke new ideas." The book, published August 2007 by MITpress was written by Turkle who is Abby Rockefeller Mauze Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology at MIT and Founder and Director of the MIT initiative on Technology and Self. A release from the MIT Press says that she "pairs each autobiographical essay with a text from philosophy, history, literature or theory, creating juxtaposition as once playful and profound."

Check out this blog for more info on the book and other topics, http://www.newscientist.com/blog/shortsharpscience/2007/05/evocative-objects.html

Congestion Reflection

Congestion Reflection

Don’t let stuff pile up. Don’t do it. Keeping the corners, attics, closets and under-bed areas free of unattended stuff is a key to keeping the flow of life energy moving through your home successfully. The home is a literal reflection of the human psyche. Wellbeing requires the same type of diligence in the emotional and psychological realm. From your home’s perspective, know what you have and why you have it in a general sense. If you identify an area of unkempt flotsam, spend a little time thinking about it and then take action to make an improvement. Pay attention, it is very likely that the action you take will bring to consciousness some aspect of yourself that has been somewhat congested and needing the light of day to improve.

Collection Connection

Chandelier collection at ABC Carpets in NYC

Collection Connection

Lately I have run into several people who are avid collectors. One person has an amazing collection of Japanese furniture and décor and yet another has a magnificent array of clocks. I admire personal collections because they give me a birds-eye-view of a fairly good sampling of objects in a genre in which I am usually not too familiar. But if I consider it from another angle, what does a ‘collection’ mean to the collector? What does it represent?

I notice in some cases the collection is a story line of where someone has traveled and where, in some part, their consciousness was during their travels. Objects hold information about culture and have a temporal language that is just as good as a diary entry. Other collectors who choose to focus on one type of object, clocks, for example, may indeed be fulfilling a neurological ‘sweet tooth’ of sorts to experience the shape, sound, texture—overall experience of an object repeatedly in various forms. This type of collecting has a sensation of intensity associated with it that would seem to reflect some aspect of the person doing the collecting.

Etruscan Chariot: An emblem of identity

City Scape* by James Mathis. Oil. 1964 courtesy of the National Archives

Spoleto, Italy wants its Etruscan Chariot back. J.P. Morgan bought it many years ago and it has lived in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for years. Now the Italian city wants it returned. The descendants of the Etruscans want the opportunity to reclaim an object that reflects their heritage. There is a debate as to whether it must be lawfully returned because it was purchased prior to the procedures in place that address the trade and sale of antiquities. You can read about this subject on National Public Radio's website @ www.npr.com. The article is dated 8/21/07.

This debate is a great reminder of the power we give objects to represent ourselves. It is no less important in our personal lives. Being conscious to the power of objects to reflect an impression of who we are can add depth and dimension to a life well observed. Objects are language without national barriers. They convey essential facts about how we live and the meaning we attribute to living.

Music Power

My 86 year old grandmother literally blares devotional music of all kinds every morning. She isn't deaf. She turns it way up and sends it all over her house because she has caught on the to the power of music to reset the vibrations in her household and in herself. She uses music to set the tone for her day. Literally. Sometimes I call her and have to wait while she dashes to her stereo to turn down the volume.

I love this about her. I love it that she caught on a long time ago what a little home engineering can do to set things in motion for a sense of peace and well being. She is a natural, actually. As I think we all are. She taught me by example that a clean, uncluttered home, in which objects have their place is one method for supporting a sense of comfort and connection.

What do you do to support a sense of heath and peace in your home?

Mekom Hanekhama

photo taken at ABC Carpets in NYC


Safe places are a necessity across life. Stop and think a moment about where yours is found. Hopefully you have a place established somewhere. At a conference today on death and dying I was introduced to the Hebrew term 'mekom hanekhama' which refers to creating safe places. In this case it was suggested that we need a place in our home that is a space to reflect, pray and process our emotions and thoughts. Sometimes this space is an entire room or area. Sometimes it is a chair or floorspace. Let the people who live in your home know the purpose of the location.

To establish a safe space consider including:

A comfortable chair or sofa
Candles
Objects with meaning that comfort you
A journal
Photos of loved ones

A great resource for information on grief can be found at The American Academy of Bereavement, www.bereavementacademy.org

Clutter Recovery

Whether you are conscious of it or not, objects have the effect of giving your home a peaceful and comfortable feel as well as the ability to give a sense of overload and chaos. It may be that how we are feeling on the inside translates to what our home looks like. Along the same lines, how we engineer our homes can have a significant impact on how we feel.

While there are a number of ways to approach setting the stage for a healthy and supportive home, one of the simplest and least expensive methods is to remove clutter. Clutter can apply to décor, papers of daily living, household items, storage, garage, attic, basement and closet content. It is amazing how often we manage to literally not see the clutter we’ve created. It seems that the brain has a method for limiting our conscious awareness of visual stimuli over time sufficient to help us become unaware of an overabundance of stuff.

There are many reasons we gather things. They vary from the practical to the emotional. Architects, Interior Designers and Psychotherapists have provided much written material on this subject. Without going into detail from that perspective, here are some steps to freeing your home from clutter and increasing the flow of comfort and wellbeing in your home:

 Go through each room in your home and get an overall feel of the space
 Choose an area in your home that needs improvement
 Identify the objects that appear to be causing discomfort
 Determine which objects need an organizing approach or removal approach
 Make a plan for organization and execute
 Make a plan for removal and execute

Remember to seek the help of a friend or professional if needed. Sometimes people are needed to help make decisions and solutions or to provide emotional support/coaching during the process. Make good use of the many organizations that take donation. Be sure to get a receipt for tax reporting purposes.

Living Well Takes the Form of a Consigment Business

Carmen Lopez, owner of Current Boutique


Carmen Lopez, owner of Current Boutique just exudes joy about her new consignment business in Arlington, Virginia. She should. She has made that leap from working in a corporate business environment to something completely of her own making. Now she arrives each day in her ethical, earth friendly and lucrative women's new and used clothing business. Certainly the skills she learned along the way have put her in the perfect position to go forward successfully with her own endeavors.

For years I have talked passionately with clients and friends about how important it is for our sense of wellbeing to express our truest soul's expression. Coming to learn about what that is can be a challenge. And a soul's expression can take many turns along the road of life. I am well into this journey myself and can, on some days, barely cope with the requirements of this process, other days I am filled with curiosity and delight. It can take years of inklings, impulses and various life experiences to bring someone to the point of making the transition from living towards the social consciousness to coming from the soul's consciousness.

Visit Current Boutique and with a little attention you'll easily pick up on the sweet sensations to be experienced when in the presence of all the right elements in place. From well done décor to well chosen designer and couture clothing and accessories, the feel is well balanced and complete. It strikes me that anything you take home from Current Boutique carries with it a little slice of the vibe Carmen has created. Check out her website at www.currentboutique.com or better, visit her on Wilson Boulevard in Arlington.

Substance & Potency

During a recent consultation I was introduced to the concept of Substance and its relationship to Potency. In this case, substance refers to that which is the body or content of subject matter. Potency refers to the ability to take action and get results reflective of the subject matter. After my initial aggravation at my own imbalance of the two, I am slowly becoming aware of the complexity of right action and timing for all things. While it is true that taking bold steps to move toward new endeavors is important, it is also true that the substance of those endeavors takes time and effort to cultivate. For example, a person can want to be a farmer and can see how effective farming will be for the local community but if the farmer does not have the tools in place to conduct the farming, the vision will fail to manifest.

Sometimes the Visionary Self has to await the Learner Self to become engaged in order to work together for true success.

Go away to come back

Spent some time on business this week in St. Petersburg, Florida. It felt great to take a short jaunt out of town as I don't travel very often for work. Each day before work and after, I spent extra time focusing on being more conscious and peaceful. I had taken Julia Cameron's book Heart Steps along with me. It was noticable to me how much more agreeable and relaxed I am when I take just a little time to focus my intention and create more daily acceptance of what simply IS.

I am always amazed at the results of paying more careful attention to events and interactions with others. On this trip I was able to spend some time really listening to some of my colleagues and learning more about how they deal with similar themes to my own both personally and professionally. It is all too easy in our American five-minute-shower lifestyles to go it alone. This trip reminded me to recalibrate my own intentions on a daily basis and to accept and give support wherever it is found or needed.

Sleep Love

Rest, oh sweet rest. The restoration that accompanies the hours of sleep is invaluable. Medical journals attest to this relative to the immune system, organ and overall brain functioning. And from the expanded consciousness perspective we may indeed take flight to explore deeper realms of awareness that are only recently being understood. Dreams have long been the stuff of personal and professional conversations, however there is much more going on during sleep than the word ‘dream’ implies. I’ll leave that for future writing.

I did not coin the phrase ‘sleep hygiene’ but I use it frequently as I support the concept that sleep preparation is a cornerstone to inviting successful rest. The preparations start with the overall feel of the space. It needs to give the feeling that something unassociated with the rest of daily living happens there. A sense of peace, comfort and withdrawal from the outer world makes for the perfect setting for rest. It is best thought of as an intimate chamber where one is most internally referenced. This said it is worth the reminder to be exceedingly thoughtful about who and what is permitted there.

My recommendations include:
 Choose a paint color restful to your eye
 Limit clutter
 Avoid technology use beyond music
 Keep reading materials limited to good literature and spiritual growth
 Keep financial management and arguments out of the bedroom
 Choose furnishings and décor that reflect your desired sense of peace & comfort

Antiques: imprints and branding

(Brownstones in Winter * by Ellis Wilson provided by the National Archives)


Many years ago when I was a graduate student at the University of Georgia, my Step-dad and I got lost one evening in an interesting conversation about antiques. I was surprised to find that he shared a concept about them that I am certain he nor I had ever discussed with anyone, much less each other.

We discussed the somewhat mystical yet somehow desirable idea that what we loved about old, pre-owned furniture was the 'imprint' that may be left behind by the prior owner. Sometimes the imprint is in a nick or scar, sometimes it is discernable in the faded finish. Note how much more valuable an unrestored antique is on the market. There seems something noble and right to be the newest steward of a history bearing object that now stands sentry in the new owner's home. My parent's home is full of antiques. If our theory holds, then their home is a veritable army of 'imprints' somehow silently interacting in their current setting.

Little did I know that this concept would hold fascination with me across my lifetime. I now perceive that objects are not only branded by bearing witness to our lives but somehow influence and inform our daily lives.

Red Poppy Stationery: Oh How I Know Thee

(Photo of The Papery in Arlington, Virginia)


I was turned on to good paper a long time ago. I was nine years old when I was given a beautiful box of stationery with a bright red poppy on the cards. I can still remember the feeling it gave me to look at them. I felt sophisticated and pleased by the image of beauty in my hand. I also loved the idea of passing it on through correspondence. Thus began what continues to this day. I love to write and send notes on meaningful stationery. My soon-to-be-husband now knows that my personal list of 'always a hit' gifts includes stationery. He recently exercised this principle much to my delight. He even hit my aesthetic spot on, it is contemporary with vintage echoes. As an aside, the person you marry should get you like this.

The other thing that happened, thanks to the box of poppy cards, is that I knew right away that the image was the aesthetic of the person who sent it to me. In true essence, she extended herself to me in a very artful and quiet way. Not only did I feel grown up by being given such lovely cards, I awakened to knowing that things are often representations of the people who associate with them. As a matter of fact, the woman who sent them to me went on to impact my greater understanding of this subject because she held some fascination for me around the items she chose for her home which were so different from the home in which I lived. I had a sense that I knew her by her things.

A great place to find a terrific assortment of stationery including traditional favorites like Crane and contemporary favorites like Vera Wang and Kate Spade is The Papery which has locations in the Washington DC metro area and in New Jersey. You can visit them at www.thepaperystores.com. I recently purchased wedding invitations from them and was pleased to find the staff patient and creative.

Spirit is Always at Home

Science of Mind Reverand and teacher Angela Peregoff provides a daily forum for centering and co-creating a life living in intention and wellbeing. In the following piece, gratefully reproduced from her her Morning Blessings, Angela addresses the sacredness of personal space.

Spirit is always at home.

Wherever I find myself,
I know that I rest in the arms of Spirit, protected and comforted.
I look around my life and realize that the home in which I live
is also the dwelling place of Spirit, both in form and formless.

I let order and the wholesome nature of Spirit become manifest
in my home, tending to its needs consciously and joyfully,
seeing it as a selfless service to the One Power.
I keep my home clean and inviting, creating a space in
which to celebrate my life and the lives of all I love.

I give thanks for the beautiful place in which I live, and
I continually move through my life in a state of gratitude
for all that Spirit gives to me all creation in its lavish opulent way.
It is good, and so it is.

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THE MORNING BLESSINGS
Morning Blessings © 2003 - 2006 Angela Peregoff. All rights reserved.
Send your feedback to info@angelaperegoff.com
Visit www.angelaperegoff.com for more blessings.
____________________________________________________________

If you desire to receive daily Blessings, send an email to blessings@angelaperegoff.com

Man & Art

Art always tells a story. It is a language familiar to all cultures with imagery having deep echoes in specific cultures as well as imagery familiar to humanity in its entirety. Visual images are a timeless snapshot that provides many clues about the zeitgeist in which it was created and the internal world of the creator.

The human brain reads all the information imbued in a piece of art and integrates this information into all the systems of the viewer. Intellect, emotion and spirit are fed in ways that bring more shape and density to the individual. The result is a more ripened individual who, in turn, makes his or her mark on the human fabric. This perspective suggests that just as with any 'food', it is wise to be considerate of what is consumed.

Home Soul

Home Soul: The collective consciousness and a Philippe Stark chair


Turn on your TV and flip through the channels. Count the number of shows you run across that are related to designing and decorating a dream home. Shows like Trading Spaces, Design on a Dime, and reruns of This Old House flourish in a never ending parade beaconing us to consider ourselves in terms of how we live, what symbols reflect us and who we want to become. Ever wondered what this fascination with homes says about us?

These shows and the resultant proliferation of artfully designed home goods seem at first to be another crack at wonton materialism. On closer inspection, there may be another construct that has been emerging and making its way into public view. Peel back the façade and perhaps the shows are actually echoing a soundless chorus of desire to find our symbolic center and nestle securely within in it, wrapped snuggly in a Ralph Lauren paisley wool throw. Maybe this rapidly growing interest in all things ‘home’ is a modern evolutionary Jungian method of raising our collective consciousness via a familiar visual and consumer driven pathway to meet that of our collective soul.

Even if the word ‘soul’ is never uttered in relationship to the home products, this may be the very aspect of self that responds to the message these shows stimulate and send to our consciousness. The message is then processed as an urge to purge, purchase, or otherwise participate in a change to the way we live. It is the pursuit of a Shabby Chic treasure, procurement of a piece of Chihouly glass or selection of a Philippe Stark chair that may stir more than the mind. These items become symbolic representations so deeply imbued with meaning that their very presence and position in the home can be a powerful entity adding to or subtracting from the actual feel and energy of a home. This ‘think and so it is’ perspective is fundamental to various philosophies like that of Descartes and Ernest Holmes. This thought concept is also an aspect to the artful practice of Feng Shui and other emerging interior design work.

Every year magazines like Real Simple, Cottage Living and Domino emerge to reflect our increasing obsession to know what to buy for our homes or which kind of home to live in to be able to create a bit-o-nirvana right there on the block. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to sum up this growing cultural interest as ‘keeping up with the Joneses’. It is entirely possible that it was never really ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ even for those who were trying to do so. Maybe something more imperative was at work all the time. Perhaps it is awareness of our surroundings and their interplay with our very essence that has grown en masse. It is a more careful armchair psycho-spiritual anthropologist that takes note of the ramping up of these home related themes in our mass consciousness.

In consideration, if you are following along with this line of thought, the next time you are moved to make a purchase, be it a Thomas Pheasant sofa or new Poggenpohl kitchen, take a moment to do a quick scan of your psyche. Ask yourself what desire it fulfils, wonder aloud what you think it will say about you and imagine the actual life it will take on in your home. Consider if the selection is food for the soul or a temporary fix. Determine if it is a true reflection of who you are or if it will, in a large or small way, support you to be called you to your highest self. Perhaps Edgar Guest, in his 1916 poem, “Home” was on to something when he wrote that “it ain’t home t’ye, though it be the palace of a king, until somehow yer soul is sort o’wrapped ‘round everything.”

A New Take on Baby Gifting

Bringing in Baby: That Jumpy Monkey baby tee may send a deeper message


Look through any catalogue for baby gear and it is clear that we want only the softest and gentlest of things to come into contact with our new babies. As humans we want to sweetly ease them into the home and make them welcome into the world. We choose soft, natural fabrics and color pallets like those used in Jumpy Monkey tees and Little Giraffe blankets: easy on new bodies and suggesting a smooth landing from mother’s womb to the earth. We want the first messages baby gets to be ‘you are safe, comforted, and welcomed here’.

Even before the baby is born, it seems that people all around the world do some version of the welcoming song as if they are calling the baby forth. In Native American lore, the Whale’s song is a tonal record for all that is past, present and future. Perhaps the act of preparing for baby by purchasing the crib, attending showers and receiving gifts taps into the part of the song that celebrates the coming of new life with its mystery and magnificence. Universally, this song’s call may be an expression of the hopes and wishes for all generations. Who knew that Coyuchi baby bedding could herald such universal themes? Perhaps the designers knew if only unconsciously. There does seem to be a growing awareness of the ethical and energetic impact of objects on consumer psyches which is spawning a new age in product development and availability. A cursory check of baby product websites like sleepytimestore.com provides a good example of the baby-song refrain.

The gifting process is a great example of celebrating the preciousness of a life coming forth. It may even be that the person who absentmindedly picks up a cursory gift from Babies-R-Us for a shower contributes in a symbolically potent way. Perhaps this gifting action alone sets into motion a thought and wish that is transferred right to the very being soon to arrive. Even without waxing on such lofty concepts, the thought that an act of welcoming kindness sends a positive message is easy most to imagine.

The next time you are a fortunate part of the human welcoming chorus, take the opportunity to consider, just for a moment, what message you want to convey as you take part in the celebration. Consider the art of mindfulness and intention as you select the gift or attend baby related events. Consider yourself lucky to be a witness to such life affirmation and remember that it is possible that the message you send with your presence and offering may have such an effect as to cosmically rebound into your own life.

For some current and cool baby gifts like Bobux Baby Shoes and Jumpy Monkey Tees check out www.sleepytimestore.com and www.lucieclaire.com

Meet Gemgrl

It has taken some time to get to the point to start writing about all the various themes related to inspired living in the home and all related topics. This area of humanity related to living in space and among objects is a vast curiosity for me and has become a bit of an all consuming consideration at times. Only a few close to me would know that I view personal belongings and their place in our lives as storyboards with unending tales to tell. I am inspired daily by objects and their place in my life. Indeed, anyone I meet in my day is perceived specifically by their context: what is present, what is not and the sensations/perceptions created by the dynamics of the two. This natural approach, in my estimation, is common to all humans. I just happen to talk and write about it.

Inspired Home: The Beginning

Comes a time in life when all kinds of experiences shuffle into a life theme that begins to express itself over and over. That theme for me is Home and all that is related to it: Design, Architecture, Art, Spirituality, Health, Friends, Family, etc. Home is the mirrored seat of the Self. Look around yours and, to the careful witness, a story unfolds much like reading an autobiography.

Humans are highly symbolic creatures and so much is known about one another without words. Objects become a dialogue among one another and with you and those in your home. The languages are as complex as Chinese and as beautiful as a mathematical equation and they run deep and wide in the fabric of every living person.



There are people who read a Rothko and a Picasso in just a glance. In this way, I read a home.