I sit on the sofa and watch my beautiful, frail 21 year old Maine Coon cat, Stormy, curled in the blue wingback chair.  He is so tiny, so emaciated. He is dying. We all are ultimately, but his long years have finally caught up with him. It has been a day of trying to make him comfortable with pain medications. I have been in consultation with my home vet who will be here tomorrow to assess Stormy and most likely we will help ease his transition Sunday afternoon. My heart is heavy, so I concentrate on breathing deeply. To watch my angelic furry child sleep, his belly rising and falling slowly, is a meditation. I go deeply into a state of being. There is no more to do in this moment. Stormy and I are as all of us, Children of the Universe. It is often in the twilight of life, before the great transition into the next world, that we come face to face with that peace, one of neither grasping nor reaching. I look into the tired emerald green eyes of my Stormy, and I see the cosmos, infinite, timeless. As Stormy approaches death, I surrender to being, not doing. To loving, not coveting. To stopping, not starting. I know the spirit of my beautiful boy is  entwined with mine. Now is all we have. Now is the greatest gift we are given....

Sending you joy and peace!

This week has been a challenging one, the subtle tendrils of despair making their appearance like the delicate buds of Spring at long last giving way to the blooms of flowers in New Hampshire. It was Kahlil Gibran in " The Prophet," who wrote, "
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain."

Indeed as I have worked on this week's Positive Principle : What is Your Story, I have experienced both the sorrow and joy of identifying the tales I have told myself most of my life. Yes, there a few stories that have served me, but a multitude that have not, the scale off balanced by deep seeded beliefs echoing self loathing.

Working with Max this week has been powerful. To actually write down the beliefs about myself has made me all the more aware of their impact, positive or negative. In order to heal from anything that no longer serves, it must first be acknowledged, it must reach the surface in order for it to be transformed.

I have for so long imbibed the poison of my own thoughts. In the past I have truly believed I am worthless, a failure, better off not evening being here. In the past I have given away my voice, my power, to stories that have imprisoned me. No more. No more! I don't care if I have to stop myself 9000 times a day, I am committed to reframing my beliefs, to changing my story, to embracing the power of the present moment. Sorrow has carved in me enough of a vessel to contain joy. It is a process. It is a delicate dance. There is no arriving at some pinnacle and blissing out forever. No, this path is a work in progress, it's seizing the day and transforming my long held thoughts about myself. It is giving all I have to this journey, one story at a time.

"And he alone is great who turns the voice of the wind into a song made sweeter by his own loving."
Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

What is my story? What is my song? How can I transform each one? Through my perception, through my decision to love my story and my song. What a blessed week this has been, learning just how important it is is to mind my vibration. As an empath, I have often faced great challenges with boundaries. I have allowed the energy of others in to a point of suffering greatly. Now through the teachings and coaching this week, I learned that I can hold my vibration, detach with love, and still be a compassionate person. The need to bleed myself dry for others is not healthy. Empathy is love not only for others, but for ourselves . I've learned this from observing hermit crabs and turtles this week. When wanting to protect themselves, to set definitive boundaries, each creature retreats into the sanctuary of its shell. I learn the lesson of minding my vibration from my cats as well, such wise souls they are. If Loki, my beautiful, fluffy , yet shy black cat, becomes overwhelmed with the energy of the other cats, or humans, he buries himself under the covers to seek solace and to regroup. He still lifts his ear up to listen to the outside world beyond the covers, but he is minding his vibration, removing himself from situations that stress him out. To be able to separate yourself with loving detachment is a great gift. It is a principle we are students and teachers of for our entire lives. Let's make our lives "into a song made sweeter" by our own loving.

Bright Blessings to all of you during this very magical time of year! As I type, the Pink Moon is on the rise, heralding rebirth, where here in the Northeast, the grasp of winter has finally receded, and the promise of flowers and greenery in bloom whispers sweetly into the night air. Tomorrow morning on April 4th, we have a Libra Lunar Eclipse, a very charged event indeed, a time for transformation, for purification and change! A time for action! This heavenly event coincides with this week's Positive Principle! We have been working up to this week of action! This is a week where we embrace our fears, feel the LOVE, and get things done! I realize that I have had my writing, singing and audition goals on hold because of fear in the past. This week, with the ever sage wisdom and guidance of Polly and Max, I am not letting fear paralyze me any longer in pursuing my vision! The songs and my manuscripts are written as are the query letters. Tonight I have embraced the magic of the waxing full moon to create a beautiful ritual where I am sending blessings and positive spells with my manuscripts and songs I wish to have published. We can all harness the power and magic of the moon, to manifest great things in our lives. We can not only put our intention out into the Universe, but follow through with specific steps daily so that we follow through with our intentions! To quote one of my favorite all time movies, " Almost Famous, " " It's all happening!"

Today I received an exquisite surprise gift from Max and Polly! I opened up the package to take in the gorgeous fragrance of Lavender from Max's garden. Such a kindness literally brought me to tears of joy. I have photographed my Pink Moon Blessing Ritual as I have incorporated the stunning gift they gave me. It has amplified the whole experience as I sense the love and guidance from Polly and Max! I am also sending that love  right back to them and to my fellow cast members, and to all of you!!!!