Observe

 

Malasana - Garland Pose

Sit back and watch the frenzied, delirious world do its thing whilst you do peaceful, casual yours. 

Jingle all the way 🔔 

You time

 

Purvottanasana - Reverse Plank Pose

Our most hectic times are the most important times to make time for yoga. 

Hands like work

 

Virasana - Hero Pose

How do we quiet the mind and open the heart? By moving the hands. 

A weighty question has been pulling me down and dragging me back, but I found respite and lightness this morning by: unpacking our suitcases, setting up the advent, calling an artist to collaborate, writing checks, designing and sending an invitation, decorating a small tree, cooking a nourishing dinner… 🎄 

Not mydailydrawing

Tadasana Urdhva Hastasana - Volcano Pose, Mountain Pose variation

🌋

On tippy ‘palm tree’ toes 🌴

Not Big News : I have been playing with stylus (ipencil) and alternative programs (procreate from sketchbook) and even an upgraded iPad (I have always used my toddler’s), but the stylus sits in the crook of my hand while I type and draw with my middle finger, the new keyboard lacks emojis, and sketchbook continues to fulfill my meager doodling desires. So, as of yet, dailydoodles are lingering in their old ways - created in refurbished older model apple products with sharpie-esque outlines paint bucketed (filled in) in a marker/highlighter manner… for this doodler, old school still rules, plus - it’s not mydailydrawing, that’s for sure. 🥵😅

🌟 Starbaby 🌟

 

Yoga Mudrasana - Psychic Union Pose

Lotus legs, hands bound, third eye to the floor 🧿

🌈 How do you prepare for your birthday? ✨ 

Returns and exchanges

Supta Padangusthasana - Reclined Big Toe Pose, with strap

Realize genuine aspirations by crossing off of your list any and all errands / shopping. XX even those returns and exchanges that seemingly save you money, but in reality perpetuate a vicious cycle (of believing that next thingie might finally make all the difference). Eat the ‘cost’ to reclaim the hours up front and bask in the meaningful goals accomplished before long.

Mirror rorriM

Bhujangasana - Cobra Pose arms wide 🐍 

When we lessen our own material requirements, (persistently removing those pesky impulses and cravings one-at-a-time,) the incessant worldly demands of our children (and other household members) no longer vex us, as the mirror aspect is removed. 🪞 

XS enough to schlep XXL loads.

Beacon

 

Light bright beacon of artistic imagination. 

I have leaned heavily into the Mother role - which has physically manifested family-friendly, practical, durable, colorful, grounding and compounding clothes, foods and shelters. But there is a lighter, brighter, ASCETIC aspect of myself I’m turning more and more towards (without eschewing my foremost family-first ethos).

Dirndl

 

Dirndl 

Liebe - Love

How do we, as women, find our personal UNIFORM in the current CHAOS of literally unlimited options?

🦂

 

Balasana - Child’s Pose

Sometimes I forget to be kind. (Ingrained Scorpio habits die hard.) So I APOLOGIZE and try to be better. (There has been a marked decrease in my instinctual ‘revenge’ ways.)

Summer Elixer

 

CLEAN with bar soap 🧼 

SCRUB with sugar/salt + lemon, honey, vanilla, olive oil 🧂🫒 

MOISTEN with coconut oil, castor oil, beef tallow 🧉🐮

SOOTHE with aloe, lavender essential oil, ice 💜🧊

Easy

 

Parivrtta Sukhasana - Easy Twist, Seated Twist, Simple Cross-legged Twist

Couples are yoga 💕

Yes, the answer is kindness. 

Close and Click

Aparigraha - Yama of non-possessiveness, non-greed, non-attachment 

It’s finally here. Mommy’s ‘off’-season. No birthdays or holidays in this home until October and I’m giddy. I sat at the coffee shop this morning practically levitating; Easter was my final hoorah and it’s behind me. 

Of course, there will still be endless playdates, gatherings and pool parties in our near future, but those parlous (albeit winnowed* and well organized!) DECORATION BINS are now clicked shut and closed up in the cupboards — for nary half the year !!!!! 🥂 

*Some sizable, substantial decorations have only lived with me through 2 years, 2 rounds of celebrating, but were a mistake that must be acknowledged and their donation pick-up is scheduled. I hope it’s not too inconvenient to pass along life-size trick-or-treating statues, giant glowing snowflakes, glitter encrusted cranberry wreaths, golden light-up nutcrackers, and stoic German Santa Clauses in May…

Hip to my Hop

🍬 

Sometimes a little piece of candy (or gum) is all the pick-me-up you (your passengers, fellow travelers, skiers, hikers, shoppers or meanderers), need to restore that Springy bounce in your step. So, have a small 🍭 stash on hand.  

My mother is known for licorice or caramel. I carry anything mint chocolate. The kids and their father go for peanut butter. Gum is always a crowd pleaser… you ??? 

Confetti

 

SHOW UP Show Pony!!!

If you’re suffering from the Winter Blues it’s likely those all about you are too!!  Bring on the color, the texture and the prezzies and MAKE THE FUN at the parties. In all the ways Winter encompasses GIVING. 

ATMOSPHERE

Xmas flowerchild dress, jellyfish onesie (on bébé), ‘tartlet’ (so says my brother) ruby and diamond earrings, pink and green tourmaline ring, bows, bows, bows, and BARE FEET !!

Every holiday has its ambiance - decide on and GUIDE that quality, but when life inevitably throws its curveball - just GO WITH IT. Our Christmas turned out sickly and stormy, but it was also curiously easygoing, exceptionally intimate and required a remarkable combined effort - an ESPRIT DE CORPS !!!

Atmosphere - ‘vapor’ ‘globe’

Back to the Sea

Crystal turtle-neck dress, gold and pearl choker, diamond hoops, suede cowboy boots, leather cherry purse, cremant champagne and Coke for Family party in Denver.

 

The river is flowing,

Flowing and growing

The river is flowing

Back to the sea

Mother Earth carry me

A child I will always be

Mother Earth carry me

Back to the sea

- Sun Bear, Chippewa Tribe

Home from the Sea, musing over what the future will be…

Put your own cashmere scarf on first

 

TieDye & bling cashmere/silk scarf.

Woolen thermals, hats, scarves, mittens - not just for children. Mamas be warm!!

Lay it down

THEME Themis - goddess of law and justice “that which is laid down or established”

Numerous trips, imminent holidayS and a berserk number of school proceedings, ceremonies, volunteer opportunities… 

Waldorf education has a classic and constant natural, beautiful inherent theme and feel. I adore coloring within those traditional lines. The more confining the constraints, the more the creativity pours. 

Outside of establishments, though, the choices are maddeningly infinite.

So fix yourself upon a THEME

EG these weeks for me : 
“Sweater Weather - Eastcoaster style” for Cleveland with family
“Romantic, Intimate - Lingerie” for 40th Birthday
“Helpful Elfin” for everyday style & overall mood
“What would a French woman do?” for a couples jaunt to isle St Maarten
“Hershey’s Kiss” in the advent calendar 
“Vintage Niwot” for Christmas
“Fuck it” for family photo, it might just not happen this year ;)

The tighter the theme the better. Don’t you just love a party where the hostess takes you on a very specific journey? And expects you you to show-up primed for said experience! 

commitment

Commitment : dedication, devotion, allegiance, loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity. 

Staying committed to ones values during the buffoonery and indulgence of this festive time I find especially tricky. "I will not succumb to senseless behavior!" I continually tell myself. Then I have a babysitter, and thus a few hours of risky freedom, and the practice of focus over folly becomes especially consequential. Take care of Astrid, connect with other humans and commune with nature - those are my essentials these days. But each morning, each moment, it is still a practice to prioritize these vital basics. Patience is therefore my current mantra and has been all through the Autumn. A first for me to stick to one maxim this long - now that's commitment!

May you enjoy a meaningful holiday season.