Riding the Wind, Flowing with Water

I can't believe it is October.

Summer was wonderful.  Green, lush and bountiful.  I harvested so much Jewelweed, Plantain, Dandelions, Red clover, Passion flower, Mint, Sage and, of course, Boneset.  This is the summer I learned to make soap.  And I honed my salve/ointment making skills.

I worked on several personal projects since the last time I wrote.  I taught some Reiki classes,  I gave some lectures on Kitchen Medicine.  I spent some time writing a few tutorials on healing with energy and plant medicine.

I began taking yoga classes which now feel absolutely necessary to me.  I even took up belly dancing again.  Nothing moves previously ignored muscles like belly dancing.

This summer was the official "coming out" of my ointments and salves.  I sold quite a few and actually have requests for more.  Amazing.  I love making them so much.  I chose three and focus my intent on them.  Plantain, Jewelweed and Cayenne.

In retrospect, I can see that "Expansion" was the theme of this summer.  Branching out and sharing what I have learned about healing and learning more.  There is no better teacher than connecting with others and stepping into previously unknown experiences.

I didn't sit down and plan all of this.  Everyday I just seemed to flow from one step to another.

This summer brought a lot of changes.  And it was not without challenges.  I still struggle with some issues relating to everyday life.   Personal dilemmas that are connected to the deep deep part of me.
Daily meditations and self treatment with Reiki aid my processing of these things.  And allow me to follow the patterns of the wind and water that appear to be moving me along.  Continue my growth and expansion while simultaneously processing my dilemmas.

This ability alone has taught me so much about how our healing practices aid us through life.  Things that used to shut me down for days now cause detours that I am slowly able  navigate through  with  no outright blockages.  I am so grateful for learning  (remembering) how to do this.

Many lessons I have learned in just a few short months.  The most recent lesson I learned today.

Yesterday I attended a really wonderful Healing Arts Fair in Fayetteville, WV.  I have attended a few in my lifetime in Virginia.  This was a special one for many reasons.  It was the first one held in this area.  And it was the first time I have ever participated,  It was amazing!

I gave Aura and Chakra Strengthening Treatments with Reiki and gave short tutorials about the importance of circulating life force throughout our etheric bodies.   I sold some of my ointments.  I met so many wonderful people.  I was amazed at how many people came.  I loved being part of it.
It was breathtaking to me.   Something I previously only dreamed of doing..I did.

My zeal caused me to overextend myself.  ...The pure delight of being part of something this huge and important to me overrode my good sense..  It was my own fault.  I was like a kid in a candy store.

It began at 11am.    I lost track all track of time after 2pm.   My friend and "Fen Shui" expert had to leave then.  She had taken the things I brought with me and made an amazing treatment area for me.  More on that another time.   Anyway after she left I just kept doing treatments.  I was so involved with it.  Until some alert sounded in me as I was finishing up what would be my last treatment of the day.

And when I gained some awareness of time and space I knew I had to stop, pack up and go home.  Drunk with energy work,  exhaustion from standing for hours, light headed from not eating or drinking enough...I took the time while grounding myself and drinking some water in my car before driving home to acknowledge that I learned a valuable lesson.  And I will heed it.  I knew intellectually that with energy work there has to be space in between treatments,  drink water, ground myself often and limit the treatments to a certain number of people per day.  But I never was in a situation exactly like that and I didn't monitor myself well enough.  Too much of a good thing will wear you out.

So today I am taking it easy.  I have no choice.  I am still feeling the effects of my venture.  I had many things I wanted to do today..but it's not happening.

Was it worth it?  ABSOLUTELY!  I am so grateful for yesterday at the Healing Arts Fair. What a blessing it was.   I will never forget it my whole life.  This summer has  shown me other doors that had been waiting to be opened by me that I couldn't see before.  I was too busy trying to bang on the ones that have shut in my face.
And I am definitely going to do this again.  With moderation and mindfulness.

So I say goodbye to Summer and welcome the Fall that arrived a couple of weeks ago.  I am thankful for all the things I experienced, the blessings I received and new wisdom I have acquired.

What is my next plan?  Right now I am going to take my puppy (who is no longer a puppy) for a walk in my little hollow.  Take some deep cleansing breaths of the cool air and admire the myriad of colors in the trees.  I will ground, center and revive myself.

I will "ride the wind", "flow with water" and confer with my Inner Guidance.   And see where it takes me.   Utilize the things I have learned and experience more lessons I need to learn.