Dance the Night Away!

Okay, so I've recently fallen madly in love with ecstatic dance! Ecstatic dance is simply unguided, free-form dancing to music of all genres in a private or public forum - sometimes I refer to is as Spirit Dancing. Seattle has tons of venues for ecstatic dance, apparently it's pretty popular here. For my first time, I attended a women's ecstatic dance with some women from my community - we started off with a few Qi Gong exercises to warm up, then the music started and we danced, got silly, and even twirled like disco-ballerinas for the next few hours to everything from hip-hop, to pop, electronic, celtic, world beats, and more!! I had so much fun shakin' it, and there was never a moment of awkwardness. Afterwards, its like we were totally blissed out on our own endorphins and I was on that magical, natural high for days. A few weeks later, I attended a coed ecstatic dance on Capitol Hill, which was ever better than the first - I guess the male energy brought something else into the mix! Anyway, if you haven't heard about this lovely Kundalini-inspired artform, now you have - try it, it's an awesome remedy for stagnancy, procrastination, lack of creativity, exhaustion, anxiety, depression, and more! If there aren't ecstatic dances held where you live, no worries. All you need is music and some space (silence actually works too), just 'shake it' like no one's watching and allow your body to express itself through its own healing moves - it knows what to do, all you have to do is follow!

Your Friend,
Rainfaerie

Cheers! A Toast to Success!

       School's out! I really appreciate this 3-week break to get back to a few projects I put aside earlier, as school took priority. Although this was a busy quarter for me, I'm grateful to say that a few things have come to fruition! A little over a year ago, I dreamt of becoming a writer for a wellness publication, and began writing short articles for Wellness Speaks, another blog I author as a companion to World Wellness Cooperative. At last! I was invited to write for Sound Intgrated Health News (SIHN) just last month! SIHN was created by Lisa Price, a Naturopathic Doctor(ND) who happens to be a Bastyr Alumnus, yay! My first article entitled, "Approaching Urinary Tract Infections the Natural Way" was published on 12/7/11, you can check it out by clicking here! I also recently scored a great job at Bastyr Center for Natural Health, which is another dream I'd had since about a year ago. When we first arrived in Seattle, I was looking avidly for employment, but kept missing the mark. I began to realize that apparently, none of them were meant for me, so I waited and kept my dream alive of working in the clinic. After being told a position in the clinic was unavailable, I asked...one more time and the answer was 'Sure, can you start training this weekend?' Of course I said yes and have been enjoying my experience there ever since. I'm so glad that I am working in the clinic because it's a great way to connect with other healh professionals while learning what it takes to run a clinic from the inside out - I couldn't have asked for a better job!
       I will admit that I wasn't exactly happy-go-lucky through the whole process. I did find myself becoming quite frustrated about being told 'No' to everything I tried my hand at, because I am human and who wouldn't feel like crap after sowing so much time, effort, and money with no sign of a good return! However, I've learned that this is one of the reasons why it's important to build relationships with others around you who are positive thinkers. When I felt like things weren't going to turn around, I talked to people who know my character and they helped me stay encouraged. When, I felt I was losing sight of hope, their faith in me was strong enough that I was able to get back on the ball and press on. I'm grateful to have such friend, family, and community support - this is so very precious and important for us as humans, we need other people.
       Anyway, those are the latest pieces of me! I didn't write this to brag about my accomplishments but rather to inspire anyone who has ever felt like throwin' in tha' towel...Dont Quit! Mom always said that when things are at their worst point and it seems all is lost, there's a blessing waiting just around the corner for you, just stay focussed a little longer and don't quit, never give up on your dreams! I'm also sure you've all heard how most successful people have failed more times than one can imagine, but they eventually got that payout - a big one! So here's to being successful, cheers if you're successful (meaning: if you're failing like crazy right now), here's to you, you deserve it!

Happy Holidays!
Your Friend,
Rainfaerie

A Blessed Weekend Spent with Mother Earth

If I could travel back in time...I'd go to last weekend and write this blog instead of waiting until today, lol! I was busy this week with school, but I still wanted to blog because it was such a memorable time in my like and that of my beautiful Xavier...

...Last weekend was awesome! I had been wanting to take Xavier to my sacred space that I established in the forest a few weeks ago. It seemed like every time we had an opportunity to go, something came up to interfere - geez! But last weekend, we went on Saturday before he had to leave for work and it was literally a glimpse of heaven, just like I'd told him. We spent the entire day out in Nature, rejoicing in Her spirit and bonding. Xavier was so touched by all that we'd beheld that he said he couldn't wait until the next day (Sunday) to come back. On Sunday afternoon, we went back with the guitar to incorporate some music into our experience an ended up spending yet another entire day there laughing and singing in Her arms. Later once we got back home, we talked about our experience and the significance of Mother Earth in our lives. I remember feeling very renewed, as my spirit was lifted...Zay said the same.

I learned that sometimes, it's important to go out and just sit with nature--no agenda necessary. This is what I call grounding - allowing the earth to renew you and restore inner balance. I also noticed a significant change in the depth of harmony, between myself and others, plants, and wildlife. Being out in the wild heightened my awareness and reminded me of the more important things in life. I am also becomming much more intuitive, and spiritually aware of things that I cannot physically see or understand. From now on, I'm making it a point to go out and just sit with nature, for at least an hour each week and be open to what She's teaching me.

Love & Light!

Your Friend,
Rainfaerie

A Penny on The Sidewalk

     A few evenings ago Zay and I were enjoying our usual walk around the moonlit neighborhood under a beautiful sapphire sky. All of a sudden, he stops and exclaims, "Alright, I found a penny!" I was surprised that he'd even spotted it because there wasn't much light available, but he placed it in his pocket as we continued on. A few minutes later, the same thing happens, but this time he shouts a bit more excited, "Alright, I found a dime!" As he placed his new treasure in his pocket, I looked at him and said, "Okay, I'm going to find a quarter next." He nodded and we kept walking. Somewhere aroung 15 minutes later, we were about 1.5 blocks from reaching the house on our return, and I was still keeping an eye out for that quarter. We walked under a large tree that managed to darken the sidewalk from the streelamp that was just above, and just as we nearly passed it, I saw something silver sparkle under one beam of light that peaked through the tree's branches. Indeed, it was the quarter that I'd promised to claim before we ended our walk that night. I picked it up and said to Zay, "Isn't this crazy? Finding a penny is common, but not a quarter. Who would drop a quarter on the sidewalk, hear it fall, and keep walking?" He replied, "The next time, I'm going to find a wad of $100 bills!" I started laughing and told him he was greedy, he shrugged his shoulders and we went back home.
     I felt deeply moved by what had just transpired, so took a few moments in silence to gather my thoughts before shaing them with Zay. We had just encountered a great teaching from the universe through our experience, and in such a simple and subtle manner. I am so grateful to have had that experience of recognizing and following omens, so I decided to share what I learned with all of you:

     The first lesson came when Zay discovered the penny and is this: When we are open to the possibility that there lies potential for greatness at all time and in all things, we will experience that greatness. Unrecognized potential can be a tragedy because it can make the road to actualizing your dreams seem endless, and many lose hope that way. People pass by life's pennies all of the time because their face value seems to be low and nothing inside them gets excited when they see one. Then they wonder why they lack the things that they want. How many pennies have you passed up on the sidewalk of life?
     The second lesson is: When we value the little that we have, we open ourselves to receive more. He knew the potential of that coin of so little monetary value, and by seeing that value, and expressing his gratitude by accepting it with a smile, he opened himself to be receive greater things. When we value the little that we have, more will be given to us. Accordingly, he found a dime the next time - ten times the value of his first treasure. If you can appreciate a dollar, then you should appreciate the components that make up the dollar. If it weren't for the collective value of 1,000 pennies, one dollar wouldn't have any value.
     The third lesson is: Learn to recognize the omens on your path, and trust them to guide you to your treasure. When I caught wind of the blessing Zay encountered, I knew that the same must be true and possible for everyone. Without any doubt, I knew that I the next step would be coming across a quarter, but that if I wanted to receive it, I'd have to look for it. Don't be so quick to say that 'it's just coincidence,' when the omens are revealing a universal truth to you because you'll miss out on the great things that are in store for you.

     Wisdom comes in all shapes, sizes, and from many sources that we often underestimate. So the next time you're out walking, at home, at work, at school, at the mall, or even in the line at the grocery store - keep your eyes and ears open to what the universe is teaching you because life is one big treasure hunt after another!

Love & Light!
Your Friend,
Rainfaerie

A Long Journey Home...

I'll never forget the evening that I stared out the back window of our 96' Chevrolet Van watching our house shrink until it eventually faded into the shadows of dusk as we drove away from life as I knew it. My childhood dreams of attending Garfield High School and the University of Washington were beginning to fade. It was May 18, 1999, I was 15, and we were moving to Miami from Seattle - no turning back now. The announcement had been made some months earlier which passed at light-speed, but I never imagined in a million years that this day would actually come - yet there I was eastbound on I-90 whether I liked it or not. It feels terrible when your lifestyle is being altered by an outside force and you don't have any control or say in the matter - but that's the nature of childhood I guess. Anyway, I was torn between the excitement that a new world would bring for me, and the new challenges that I would strive to overcome. But, I was deeply saddened by the fact that I may never see some of my friends again. I wondered when I'd get the opportunity to return for a visit, and started planning all of the things I was going to do when I did. Regardless of the expectations I had for the future, grief fell over me. I was leaving the place where my heart was rooted, this was my home and I knew that I wouldn't feel settled until I made my way back.

3,333 miles: that's how far we drove from Seattle to Miami, these were the longest 2 days of my life! I've always loved road trips and this one was the longest ever. Dad bestoed upon me the title of 'Navigator,' my job was to study the map and direct the drivers - we had 4 so they could alternate: Mom, Dad, my brother Lamont, and Orlando (some chef we knew from church). I enjoyed navigating so much that I nearly stayed awake the entire 2 days, besides, I didn't want to miss anything out the window. Driving through the midwest has a way of cleansing the soul - I felt like I was one with the road. There was nothing to see for hours but row upon row of corn field and every station on the radio played a country music - it was like a form of meditation. I found stillness on the road and it was just what I needed to prepare for the new life that awaited me in Florida.

It had been hours since our last stop, but there I was in Fort Pierce at a rest stop about to step foot onto Floridian soil for the first time. As soon as our well air-conditioned van stopped, I hopped outside and much to my surprise nearly choked as I gasped for air wondering why I felt like I was in giant sauna! In Seattle, humidity was non-existent. "Is this what Florida would be like all of the time?" I thought. I got back into the car complaining about how there was no fresh air and how we just couldn't stay here because it wasn't safe - my parents entertained my whining until we all grew tired my mouth. A few hours later, we'd finally arrived in Miami at our temporary home, the luxurious Palm Aires Golf Resort in Pompano and the beachfront Lighthouse Cove. For the next three weeks, we lived like royalty and complaints were the last thing on my mind. I spent my days with my sister Krystal, swimming in the pool or at the beach, and exploring the local neighborhood. Evenings were quiet and relaxing as I sat in my jacuzzi/garden bathtub! A few weeks later, when our home was ready, we moved out to Town & Country area and it was official - vacation was over!

I gradually overcame the culture shock over the next four years as I attended high school and made new friends. The nostalgia from thoughts of Seattle seemed to fade away, and I fell in love with Miami. At the age of 19, I met Xavier on my search for other musicians to collaborate with. After being together for nearly 8 years, I realize that he is one of the treasures that I was brought to Miami to discover. We were married on January 26, 2010 and still marvel at the way we met and all of the forces that have come into play just so that we would cross paths - the universe is a mysterious and beautiful place!

At the age of 23, I was growing restless with Miami. I had outgrown the 21-year-old party lifestyle already and was looking for more and more out of life. As a child, I was well traveled and exposed to many cultures from around the world so it was difficult for me to remain in a small place like Miami because I had literally run out of things to do. So in January of 2006, I decided to move to Dallas, TX, where Krystal lived. After a month, I was certain that it wasn't the place for me so I boarded the first plane back to Miami and started all over again. Everything was calm on the exterior, but deep down, I felt unsettled in my soul. Later that year, I accepted a position with a charter airline as a flight attendant. It was great and gave me an opportunity to see a lot of different places - everywhere I went I found myself asking, "could I see myself living here?" Miami just didn't feel like home, but neither did any other place I visited. The following year (2007), I decided that I was finally leaving Miami and moved to Atlanta, GA to work at AirTran as a flight attendant. I loved Atlanta: the 4 seasons, the culture, the food, the people, Stone Mountain, etc. I would have remained in Atlanta if it weren't for the oil crisis of 2008 that caused me to lose my job and everything else I had, except my car which carried me straight back to Miami. I felt like a prisoner - why couldn't I seem to get away from this place? It was not my home, and by then I had long forgotten about Seattle. Although I had a place to live, I felt like a wanderer without a home. Finally, in the Fall of 2009, I decided to go back to school, full time because I was sick and tired of not being in control of my own life like I was dangling from an invisible string...

In October of 2010, I received an anonymous email about a presentation on campus at FIU for graduate students only by Bastyr University for Naturopathic Medicine Program. It sounded interesting, but I was a pre-nursing, undergraduate student and felt that it didn't apply to me. Just as I was about to delete the email, I got a strange inclination to keep it. So I logged off the computer and didn't return to the email for several weeks. By then, I'd already forgotten about the email and was going through my inbox to clear out trash when I came across the email again. This time, I decided that I would attend whether I was invited or not. The day of the presentation, I was blown away by what the school had to offer, and the representative happened to have one undergraduate brochure in her briefcase so she handed it to me and I was sold! I knew that this was my calling and the school actually happened to be in Seattle. At that point in my life, to attend Bastyr in such a short time frame, I would need nothing short of a miracle. I didn't have the money for the move or the tuition, but what I did have was the will, the prerequisites (which happened to be the same as those I'd just completed for FIU's nursing school), the grades, and tremendous belief that I would achieve everything I set out to. I told the universe that I was not going to force anything else, and that if this was my calling to make it crystal-clear. After that day, everything began to fall in line as if I was being escorted by destiny itself to attend Bastyr. I received scholarships and grants, which made the tuition equal to what I was already paying to attend FIU, our move was flawless and inexpensive, Xavier started noticing changes in his life too that prepared him for something big that was about to happen. We are still in awe of how marvelously everything has worked out after watching the impossible become possible. Just as stated in The Alchemist, "When you want something, all of the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." I know this to be true from our housing, to our tickets, to shipping our things, to the miracles we've encountered just since we've been here - In Seattle that is!

We now live in Greenwood, a beautiful neighborhood just north of Seattle and everything is going smoothly. School starts on the 26th of this month and I can hardly wait - this is a dream come true! Xavier is loving it, he's super excited about the thriving music scene here and we've already written 4 songs in the past 2 weeks which we hope to perform soon at a local venue. I didn't understand why I needed to be in Miami back then, but now I know that if I weren't in that place, at that time, I may not have found my passion in life. I've learned that one should not interfere with one's destiny, it just complicates things and elongates the road we must take to reach our treasure.

Yesterday, we went to a Labor Day BBQ where I reconnected with my family that I haven't seen in nearly a decade - I've missed them so much. We chatted, laughed, ate, made smores on the bonfire and for the first time in 11 years, I felt settled in my soul.

I can rest now, I am home.

A Woman Who Acted on Her Purpose...

When I think about an experience that made me who I am today, I am reminded of my adolescent years. I was beginning to question a lot more in life, looking deeper into myself as I struggled to find my identity. As the middle child of six in a busy household, I had become invisible and convinced that I didn’t have a voice that actually mattered. My grades dropped, I began displaying disruptive behavior in school, and I withdrew from any interaction with my family at home – I would come home after school and remain in my room, isolated from everyone. I was angry with the world, starved for attention, and much too selfish to look outside of myself for a positive outlet. All of my teachers and administrators at school gave up one me except for one, Ruth Medsker – the authoritative guidance counselor with whom I constantly ‘bumped heads’. I’m certain that I spent more time in her office as a result of my misbehavior than anyone else in the entire school, and I thought that she dreaded the sight of me. However, she actually cared deeply for me decided to reach out to my family by making a desperate phone call one day during my 8th grade year. She explained that she saw a light in me that I had somehow shrouded in darkness. She was determined to find a way to help me free myself, and suggested that I participate in a new all-girl discussion group on campus. I was really confused at first because I had convinced myself that Mrs. Medsker was an enemy, but I realized that she had only exhibited tough love. If it wasn’t for her persistence, I may not have become as resilient, joyful, and successful as I have today. That phone call changed my life and she wasn’t even required to make it. In fact, she was in the middle of a pregnancy and it was outside of school hours when she should have been resting. Mrs. Medsker had a vision for me when I wasn’t strong enough to have one for myself. She was action oriented and decided to go above and beyond. I realize that the mere fact that she made that call had a greater impact on me than the discussion group did — all I needed was to know that someone cared, and so my life was transformed instantly. Since that day, I’ve not had any issues at school whatsoever and have remained an honor’s student.

Mrs. Medsker is my hero, and it’s her example that I wish to employ and teach others when I serve. I’ve learned how one small act of compassion can change an entire generation — my children will experience the healing impact that Mrs. Medsker’s service brought into my life, and so will their children. I understand the value of taking action instead of just reacting to life, and staying the coarse when I have a dream, regardless of roadblocks. Lastly, I understand that is so important to serve others because we all need other people in order to get through life. The bottom line is that I always have resources that can help others, and the moment that I don’t share them is when my own life becomes meaningless. I believe that all people are connected, so when I help someone else, I am helping myself — the same is true when I hurt, or cease to serve others.

-Your Friend,
Rainfaerie

(Repost) "To those who've allowed their unsung hero within to perish"

[Aug 21, 2007]
Current mood:touched

"Hero: n. A man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities"
-Random House Unabridged Dictionary (2006)


I don't understand where people are going these day, or better yet, where they're coming from. What's happened to passion? The thing that used to drive you to follow your dreams, and that made you perservere even when everything seemed to be going so wrong? The thing that made you my hero...

Does anyone around me feel the way that I feel, now?

Skating is my utopia - in it I find my genius. It allows me to be free, to express myself in a creative manner, it brings me joy. I've known all my life that it is what I was born to do. There is nothing in this world that can recreate the feeling total bliss I feel when I'm skating because it is more that just a physical experience, it's spiritual. When I skate, I find peace and everything makes sense. From the pain of injuries to the delight in learning a new technique, I continue my craft. It is just as much a priority to me as my job and wellness.

Why?

Because skating has helped my to discover my purpose in life. I just wish that more people would just go back to doing what they loved. If they did, they might discover their geniuses too and then heroes would be reborn.

I believe that the way to discovering your genius is through total satisfaction. You must be in a state of complete fulfillment - if you have a void of any sort, you're not there yet. What is it that you love to do most - your passion? What makes you happy beyond all measure? Sometimes, the smallest details of life carry the greatest significance, and if you're fortunate enough to realize this at some point in your lifetime, then you've done alright!

I dare you to seek out your genuis, and embark on a journey through endless learning and discovery.

I dare you to be my hero...

A few things that I need to tell my dear brother...

Dear Lamont,

I never knew until today that I've been in denial for the past six years...desparately trying to hold on to you by focusing as hard as I could on all the things we could do if only we had one more hour together, childhood memories of pillow fights and sugar water, so many many things I wanted to tell you but never got the chance...but never accepting reality, never freeing you or myself. Sometimes, I actually wondered if there was something wrong with my ability to feel - why I never cried like everyone else did that day. I bottled up all of my feelings instead of just expressing them because I didn't know what else to do. I didn't acknowledge the fact that all along I had been trying to convince myself that somehow this isn't real, that things would somehow go back to the way they were when we were young. How is it possible to hold onto so much pain disguised by delusion, yet pretend like everything is normal? I guess I've learned that sometimes when left to our own devices maybe that's the only way we know how to survive. Here and now, I can finally say that I accept your passing from this physical plane. This is the first step toward closing the hole that I've felt in my heart for so long where your physical presence was supposed to reside. When I think of you, just I want to be able to feel joy again and now I know that I can.

Thank you for all the beauty you brought into my life, for always believing in me, and for always being so gentle, patient and kind to me no matter what I did. You showed me how to look at people and see their hearts, the importance of living every day to the fullest, and taught me that nothing is impossible to attain in life.

No matter where life took you during your time here, you were always a child of God, and so you shall be remembered as such.

From one of your little sisters who loves you unconditionally,
-Dominique

Lamont Dejohn Sallier ~ 11/26/73 - 7/04/05

1st Blog - A Reflection of My 'Today'

   I believe that life is a process marked by continuous learning so it's important for me to take time at the end of each day to reflect and see what lessons or skills I encountered that same day--trust me, there's always something cool!
   I feel great! Today, I finally managed to complete the process of setting up my blog--which was started but dragged out for weeks due to my procrastination. After some reflection, I have a better understanding of the value of completing things promptly once taken on. This may sound like a no-brainer, but it can be challening at times. Sometimes, we can be so eager to take on a new project, but not take into account how many others we already have going. It feels wonderful to complete things, do you know what I mean? Even something as simple as creating a blog account has the potential to offer such a sense of accomplishment and peace. Anyway, after I finished creating the blog, I decided to take a step back and look at all the things that I'm currently 'doing' to make sure that I am progessing through each one. I was a bit shocked to see how many things I am actually juggling because I had never really quantifyed my responsibilities with my hobies. I found out that I am pretty busy: most things are going smoothly, but there are some loose ends that need attention or else they'll just get neglected. The things that are sailing smooth are what would seem to be my top priorities (school, bill payment, etc), but the things that need more action are mainly what most would deem leisure activities (reading, painting, writing, etc). This was so profound to me because I noticed that some of the loose ends are things that I really enjoy and are what I deem top priotities. For example, I am currently reading four books that I really enjoy because they are enriching my life with wisdom that is useful to my personal progress. But since I am so busy, it's taking forever to finish them because my attention is divided. Now, I already know that I should just take them one at a time, but my point is that they shouldn't be pushed to the bottom of my priority list. I feel like we are somewhat conditioned to put aside things that don't 'pay the bills' as if they are much less important, but if something makes you happy (like reading), shouldn't it have a higher ranking on your priority list? Afterall, reading can take us on such a liberating journey depending on the material, and so can any other hobby. So I decided it's time to change the way I look at the things I spend my time doing. Other than the four books I'm reading, there are a few more things that are undone in my life. Instead of trying to fix them all at once which I'd normally love to do, I will focus on one thing at a time starting with completing the first book. So instead of reading four books, I've committed to read only one for now - the rest will have to go on the shelf for a short while and wait their turn. This way, I can still do the things I have to without eliminating any of my hobbies. Are there loose ends in your life? If so, how can you tie them up without giving up a hobby? So to sum it up, here's what I learned:

-Lesson 1: No matter how appealing they may be, don't take on extra projects unless you're sure that you can without neglecting any other tasks or hobbies.
-Lesson 2: Be careful not to misprioritize things in your life based on how important 'society' deems them. If your constructive hobby brings you happiness, then maybe it should be listed up there with your top priorities. Afterall, your happiness should never be compromised.
-Lesson 3: At least once a month, take a few moments to sum up all of the things you're juggling so see how busy you really are, and how well you are managing your affairs.

See? I told you, when you reflect on what you learned each day, you'll be surprised at how much 'stuff' you come up with! All that wisdom came from finishing something I procrastinated with, and just reflecting on how it made me feel. I encourage you to take just five minutes each night record your own reflection on the day's activities no matter how mundane your day may have seemed, I'll bet you could write your own book of proverbs! I will continue to to share my daily reflections form time to time throughout my blogging experience, this was a lot of fun!

As always peace, blessings, love, & light!

Your Friend,
RainFaerie