Saturday, July 11, 2015

Finding and Engaging the Flow

 I was at my sister's house on my visit to America and low and behold, I saw the familiar cover of a copy of my most favorite book "The Celestine Prophecy" by James Redfield sitting on her bookshelf. I had given it to her years ago as a gift, and now, it called out to me, it looked me straight in the eyes and almost leapt off the bookshelf and into my hands. It was telling me that it was time to re-read it.

That's what it does, this book. It comes to you when, and only when, you are ready to receive it's gifts. Sometimes it sits on your bookshelf or your bedside table for months or years, and sometimes it finds it's way straight into your world like on this occasion. One thing is for certain, this book has a hidden agenda for who it reaches and when. That's the magic of it.

In the last 15 years since this book found it's way into my hot little hands, developing my spiritual awareness and the quest for true love have become the central focus of my life. Not surprisingly, the first led me to the second.  Now what? I feel as though I have become distracted, disconnected with my truth for some reason. I've settled in nicely to life I have manifested for myself, and I am incredibly grateful for all that I have and all that I have become. The time, however, has come to examine and re-define what I want from my life in this next stage because now I know I am capable of more and maybe need to do less. It's time now for another spiritual evolution.

I thought it would be a good idea to re-read this book since I am about to embark on my 5th 7 year life cycle as it helped me so much with my 3rd and 4th cycles. This book has brought me closer to my true self. Other books I've read since it have helped me to develop more clearly the idea of spiritual and personal authenticity. The Celestine Prophecy laid the groundwork for my growth. Now it's time to revisit my foundation and see how I can re-model with the new building materials I have acquired.

Reconnecting with this book has meant reconnecting with my spiritual self. It has meant taking the time to be more consciously aware of who I am and what I am here to do: and by here, I mean on the Earth, in Fiji, in New Zealand, in my family, in my relationships, in my head.

Re-reading the book has forced me to see through the things that I think define me (some consciously and some not) and taken me right back down to the root of my core being. It has an amazing way of helping you to connect with yourself this way and I am so grateful for the very talented writers who are capable of writing books that inspire introspection and self exploration such as this. This particular book does so with an uncanny ease as it is written in the form of an adventure story which makes it easy to pick up and hard to put down. It also makes it very easy to pass on to others.     Every time I read it, I find myself explaining it's insights to others whom I think would benefit from them. I tend to pass the book on to someone else, hoping that they will find the time to read it (when and only when the time is right for them) and then pass it on to another who might pay it forward and so on. The Celestine Prophecy has never spent any time at length on my bookshelf except for before I read it. I simply wasn't ready for it when I first was given it. Besides, it wasn't originally intended for me at that time in my life anyways! I read it when I was ready, and I'm ready again now.

This time around, I have been paying more attention. The first 2 times I read the book, I took it all in and then looked for the signs after it's completion. This time, I'm reading it and being fully aware of my surroundings simultaneously. This is the way I feel the book is meant to be read, although sometimes it can be very hard to do. This book must be read slowly, with your full attention and full awareness. Every paragraph that relates to the prophecies must be read carefully and fully comprehended before moving forward. To read it thoroughly is to truly benefit from this wonderful book. To read it consciously is to find the flow.

It's pretty easy to find the flow here at the Fiji Beachouse. There seem to be many like-minded people around who either "get it" or seem to be on their own personal path to "getting it". Travelers have this wonderful air of openness and adventure to them so it's no surprise that being surrounded by them has increased my energy levels and allowed me to feel more connected with the spiritual part of myself that I seem to loose touch with from time to time. I'm convinced that this trip to Fiji has been a necessary step in re-engaging the flow of energy in my life.

It can be draining trying to stay connected with this energy all the time. When you know it's out there and it's just up to you to tap into it, you feel kind of guilty when you are too lazy to put yourself out there or to find a way to plug into it even when you know you will benefit from it. The book suggests that every person you come into contact with has a message for you and that you in turn have a message for them. I too believe this to be true. With a roster of 30 staff and regular guests plus the 100 guests that filter in and out of the Beachouse on a daily basis, you can see how it may be difficult to offer your attention to everyone. I've learned to pay attention to my intuition and when I feel drawn to talk to someone, I do. Fiji time has afforded me that. I give them my time, and they give me theirs and there is hardly ever any rush. This is when we can truly uncover the messages that are meant for us.

Since I've been here, I've been leading a yoga class most days. I'm not a yoga instructor but I do feel comfortable leading people and I'm pretty confident with my basic yoga skills. I have been incorporating little energy lessons from the book and the yogis have been loving it, especially some of the boys who have never practiced before! They are looking forward to yoga every day and I feel happy to be able to give them something to look forward to. It's my little way of trying to share the energy I'm taking in here. Call it my energetic contribution to the Beachouse, but it feels like my duty. I feel that this is the work that I'm here (in Fiji) to do. There's something really nice about being able to give people something that they otherwise wouldn't get (or maybe wouldn't pay for) and watching them reap the benefits. It seem as though some sort of teaching might be the next evolutionary step for me. I'm not quite sure of the exact discipline I'd like to teach, but I think I'm on the right track. I think I'll explore the possibility of doing my yoga teacher's training course this year. It feels right. It feels like now that I've engaged the flow as the eighth insight of the book outlines, there's no stopping me!



Saturday, June 27, 2015

The beach, the boat and the banter

It didn't even take 24 hours at Fiji Beachouse, and I was already starting to feel like a footloose and fancy-free traveler again.

The first morning I woke up, I found myself sat around a table taking in the ocean views deep in conversation with a combination of practitioners here on a workshop about Chinese medicine along with some volunteers on a break from Green Peace's boat "Rainbow Warrior". I love meeting people from all walks of life, especially those doing things I find fascinating. The Beachouse seems to attract these types of people.

While the vast majority of the occupants are 20 somethings stoping over during their travels around the world, there's also a nice mix of people our age, some older and even some families. Let's just say meal time conversation is always dynamic.

Mick's boat is coming along nicely. He's making good time considering the fact that some of the most important materials needed took a couple of extra weeks to arrive. About 2 weeks ago, he'd finally found and paid for 8 pieces of good quality plywood. He waited patiently for the ply to be delivered only to find out that 6 of the 8 pieces had been sold a second time to a buyer with cash and way to transport the goods! Luckily, he found some replacements! Lesson learned. Bring cash...take today!

We feel so very fortunate for this amazing situation in which we have found ourselves. It's just so easy here. We have no dishes to do. No meals to cook. Not even laundry to wash! It's like taking an all expenses paid break from the hum-drum of everyday life! Everyone has taken us in quickly and we feel like we are establishing some shallow roots here for the time being.

The weather has left a bit to be desired to be honest. Most days so far have been overcast and a bit rainy, but a least it's warm and tropical...still beats the brutal cold of Wanaka right now so we can't complain too much!

We've been out on the boat the last couple of days and Mick has been surfing and I've been taking photos and fishing. We caught a couple of fish and fed our new found friends fish and chips the night before last. It was a nice feeling to be able to provide something special for them.

A few of the friends we have made through the week have left today. There are 4 or 5 that are here long term so we're getting to know them a bit better which is nice. It's a transient place indeed, but it's kind of nice to have a surprise mixed bag of visitors every few days. Definitely keeps it interesting!!

We had a nice 2 hour Sunday morning chat about politics, the economy and climate change. All topics that are so interesting to discuss with people from all countries and walks of life. So far so fun. Live music tonight...can't wait!






Friday, June 26, 2015

What home feels like

My heart is full. What a beautiful whirlwind of travel it has been over the last 4 weeks. Spending time with family and close friends in my home country is always so incredibly soul fulfilling. I am continuously amazed at the amount of time and effort my loved ones put in to make my time at home so special each time I make the journey back. 

This past trip I felt particularly fortunate as I found myself jetting around from place to place spending beautiful quality time with my nearest and dearest. Whether it was extended weekends on the beach or just an afternoon on a sunny deck, I feel as though I have been refilled and once again. My cup overfloweth. 

I don't have too many photos of these moments, but they are all painted so clearly in my mind. 
  • Listening to my beautiful sister play music to brighten the lives and calm the souls of young and old and being present to witness her explore and grow into the best version of herself.
  • Attending the wedding of my fantastic cousin and getting to be a part of a very special day in his life along with my dad and sister sharing love and laughter with my dad's family. 
  • Wandering the streets of Portland Maine trolling through thrift stores with my girls and sharing our excitement over treasures we found.
  • Watching some lobstermen bring in their haul of fresh lobsters at Marshfield harbor and finding a few gorgeous specimens on my plate to enjoy with my mom and Auntie.
  • Eating tunafish sandwiches on a hot sunny day at the beach with my bestie and watching her girls dance around without a care in the world trying to imitate my Michael Jackson moves.
  • Reconnecting with Sarah and Sherm and meeting the little man in their lives and recognizing something in him so familiar, so beautiful and humbling. Knowing that he is the leader of the next generation of Team Fun.
  • Seeing my beautiful niece grow into a young woman and share so many similarities to my sister and I. She is the perfect blend of us both.
  • Picking the brains of my extended family to begin piecing together my heritage and genealogy to better understand where I came from and where I might be heading.
  • Sitting on the sun porch in the morning with a steaming cup of coffee soaking up the knowledge of my dear Nancy while she meanders around all of the pertinent questions which she just somehow knows are the right ones to ask. 
  • Sharing a bed with my Auntie and feeling connected to her again without having to say a word.
  • Understanding and witnessing first-hand the yearning for change and the determination it takes to make it happen from my dear friends Richie and Alison and being overwhelmingly excited for them in their next adventure.
  • Seeing my immediate family all together once again to share a beautiful Father's Day breakfast. (Ok, this one I really wish I had a picture of!) 
These are some of the moments that I will never forget. This is why it is important to come home and reconnect with the part of you that can sometimes fade. Rediscovering my soul's imprint and the origins from which it came. We need only a few weeks to sharpen that image and take it along for the next journey. It is grounding. This is what home feels like. 









Tuesday, January 13, 2015

A Warm & Welcomed Blast from the Past

It's been a LONG time since I posted anything but I promise...I do have a plan to get back on the horse and start writing...in fact, I might even write a book over the winter! Cha!

I just was searching through my email for something from somebody whose name started with an L and serendipidously, Lily Galli's name appeared in my "from" line. So I thought I'd share this email with you. This is an email that Lils sent out to all of her friends and family from when we were traveling around Vietnam.

It was wonderful for me to re-read this email in her voice and to picture her beautiful little face as she typed away at a cafe in Vietnam sharing her stories with her friends around the world. Thank you gmail for providing this little slice of sweet sweet Lily for me this Wednesday morning. Just what I needed!

 "We are in central Vietnam now - the exact place that flooded 3 weeks
prior - from a Typhoon, (doesn't look like it now) where the water
came up to the rooftops - a place called Hoi An. The beauty of some of
these 3rd world countries is how quickly they can recover &
reconstruct things.

 We spent 2 nights in Nha Trang the beach capitol of Vietnam.  You
don't even need to leave the beach for anything - they will give you a
massage, pedicure, manicure, tiger balm, jewelry, sunglasses, all
kinds of shit you don't need, but would consider (especially when the
women selling these things are 90 and have no teeth - you just feel
bad).  Unfortunately, Kristi and I were not there best customers when
we wanted nothing, except to sit on the beach and relax.  We just had
to ignore them or speak Spanish.  Our last night in Nha Trang we ended
up going to some really fun clubs and dancing our asses off (you know
it's a good night when Kristi does the worm and I let my hair down and
do the booty shake from side to side).  Of course this entailed heavy
drinking and dancing with some West Africans.  At the end of the night
Kristi and I stumbled home, and a motorbike guy asked us if we needed
a ride.  We were so sick of being touted that I (in a drunken stupor
started climbing a tree), needless to say I scared him off - he must
of thought we were crazy (poor guy).  We booked a boat tour for the
next day that basically stopped off at four different islands where
you could could do gaper activities that become novelty & fun when
overseas: snorkeling, getting in the water and hanging out at a
floating bar for free happy hour drinks, free lunch, socializing, and
so on.  I, however could not enjoy these activities, as I was too hung
over and then became seasick.  Lets just say I cursed the fact that I
even decided to step foot on the boat.  6 long & sicking hours later
it was over.  Kristi had a good time and it looked like a lot of fun.

 That night we took a bus over night for 11 hours (although this bus
was not officially a sleeper bus we made it one) Kristi and I had top
the line neck pillows, virtually allowing us to sleep anywhere.  Good
thing we had those neck pillows and took half a Valium, because the
bus driver blasted Vietnamese Christmas carols all night on volume
9000, with a running Vietnamese video of God knows what playing in the
background.  Not to mention the bright lights that remained on the
entire time, and the jerky stops that flung our bodies out of our
seats.  Before you knew it - it was morning and there we were in Hoi
An.

 Hoi An is a dangerous place because you can make any article of
clothing - designer knock off stuff for practically nothing.  You can
show them a magazine picture of a designer suite and they can
replicate it in hours.  For an ex-fashion buff like myself this was
dangerous.  A kick ass black fitted pinstripe suite, pea coat &
matching skirt, and tailored jeans later - I'm ready to get back on
the bus.  Just to give you an idea - my suite only cost $50 bucks -
unreal (and it looks good!)  Hoi An also has a beautiful beach and
buildings with immense character: yellow and turquoise buildings that
are hundreds of years old, french quarter style - with mold and moss
growing all over them.  This town is quaint, and you can ride bicycles
everywhere - which we have.  This town also has amazing wood carvers
and a tasty dish called Cha Lau (which is a lot like pho - but
specific to the area -they make a great vegetarian rendition).  This
pace is charming!  Kristi and I have mastered the art of froger -
where you walk very slowly across the street so the motor bikes don't
hit you.  The truth is they will NOT stop - so you just have to go for
it and hope for the best.  It's kinda fun riding among them now.

 Tomorrow morning we take a bus ride to Hue (spend the day there),
and then take a bus overnight to Hanoi.  After that - Halong Bay, we
are so excited for that.

Until later...

XOXO,


Lily"


Miss that girl...