On Transformation

Often, when I tell people I am studying consciousness and transformation, I get quizzical looks. And it is not easy to explain what consciousness or transformation are. I mean, no one really knows what consciousness is or where it comes from. That's one of the central mysteries of the universe. But it is fascinating to learn about all the theories. And no one really understands how transformation happens, but many people have a good idea of what practices lead to shifts in our worldview, and innumerable people have experienced transformation.

I feel like I have a way now to help people understand what it is I am studying beyond giving them my quick synopsis: "The program studies psychology, philosophy, ecology, quantum theory, and spirituality in order to better understand consciousness and how we transform."

For those who enjoy reading, I plan to recommend the book Living Deeply: The Art & Science of Transformation in Everyday Life. It was written by three women, all members of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, an organization I also belong to. It is based on 10 years of research into the questions: what is transformation? How do we achieve it? Why is it important?

The authors gleaned wisdom from many religions as well as discoveries in science. It is an excellent marriage of the two.

You can read the key messages of the book here. My copy is completely dog-eared because there are so many amazing insights and teachers that I would like to find out more about.

Basically, the book explains that in order for transformation to happen in our lives, we must be open to new ideas, find a practice that works for us (for me it is a combination of dreamwork, psychic work, and connection with nature), stick to our practice, come to the realization that life is practice, and finally move into a worldview where we see that we are all connected and everything is sacred.

Here is one of the key messages: "Life teaches us what we need to know – the opportunities to learn suffuse each day if we are paying attention. Both painful and joyful experiences can be transformative."

I especially like the idea that happiness and suffering are both teachers, because all of us experience them both throughout our lives. Definitely check out the web site, and if it intrigues you, buy the book!

So Much Gratitude

I am grateful for this man. We celebrated our five-year wedding anniversary this weekend and I spent much of it in awe of how Lance allows me to be exactly who I am.

We balance each other perfectly. We can spend hours in silence in the same room, doing our own thing, and I love that. One afternoon he painted at the dining room table while I sat on the couch and read about the wonders of mushrooms. Every once in a while one of us would say something, sharing a bit of our experience. Mostly it was quiet. Bliss.

I am grateful for this cottage. Lance and I stayed at Helen's House, an amazing getaway right in the middle of Point Reyes National Seashore with breathtaking views of Tomales Bay. The owner Jeff's grandparents once lived on the five acre property, and now Jeff and his wife Barbie rent out the cottage and live on the property. I have not experienced such quiet since I house-sat at age 18 for people who lived miles outside of town. The only things we could hear were the birds and occasionally the cows from the dairy farm up the road.


The first morning we stayed at Helen's House the sun woke me up at 6 a.m., an hour I don't often witness (and normally don't want to). However, I jumped out of bed and grabbed my camera. I wanted to capture sunrise over Tomales Bay. I spent an hour (or maybe two) watching the hummingbirds dance among the flowers and taking in the clean morning air. I felt at peace.

I am grateful for nature. I experienced mile after mile of gorgeous scenery this weekend. We visited the elephant seals at Chimney Rock, lounged in the shade at Heart's Desire Beach, and hiked the serene Palomarin trail. I saw wildflowers I could name like indian paintbrushes, irises, and queen anne's lace, and many more that I couldn't name. I drank it all in with big gulps.

I filled up on the beauty and peaceful energy that radiates throughout the Point Reyes National Seashore. I hope it doesn't take us another year to return this time.

I am grateful for my life. Although trips like these often inspire awe, I wish to cultivate that awe during all the moments in my life. Moments like those when my cat claws at my leg, hoping for a snack or when I'm frying eggs in the morning before work. Whether mundane or grandiose, all moments are divine; all moments can inspire awe if we view them as sacred.

The Power of Community

On Sunday, my Consciousness & Sustainability class met one last time out in the field. We gathered in the Alice Griffith Community Garden in the Hunter's Point neighborhood in San Francisco.

When we arrived in the morning we saw ripe red strawberries, sunflowers, lettuce...a garden tended with love. It made me smile to see such beauty, especially in this neighborhood, which is situated in Candlestick Park's backyard and surrounded by toxic earth.

Brett Harte Elementary School students and Dana, a committed teacher with a beautiful heart, look after the garden. Dana worked with our class on Sunday and told us stories about the 2-acre garden that she and the students grew out of an abandoned and weed-filled lot nearly three years ago. It took hard work, the help of volunteers, and the creation of a community of children who care about the plants and trees to develop the garden into what it is today.

The neighborhood surrounding the garden faces struggles on many levels, and it is heartwarming to know that the garden is there to provide a place where the children of the neighborhood can connect with Nature.

What is difficult to hear is that it's future is uncertain. I don't know the details, but Dana hinted that the path ahead is not smooth or straight and the garden may not always be there. It is unfortunate that a neighborhood that so desperately needs love and life may not always have this garden.

Later in the day we walked to Brett Harte Elementary and helped Dana plant a butterfly garden outside the classrooms. We pulled innumerable weeds out of the plots that would soon become a haven for pollinators. This took muscle, patience, and a lot of time. We chatted, laughed, and enjoyed the sun and cool breeze. Some of us tried our skill with a pick axe...I was content to work with my hands instead.

Then we gently planted wild lilac, salvia, and a plethora of other native plants that will attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. We smiled thinking how the children's laughter would boost the growth of the plants and how the plants, in turn, would bring beauty to the schoolyard and the school community.

After all the plants were in the ground and watered, we gathered in a circle, held hands, and said blessings for the plants. We expressed our gratitude for Mother Earth on Mother's Day. We thanked the sun and the water. We shared our happiness for having been in the class and thanked Blair, our teacher, for the opportunity he gave us to re-engage with Nature. And we thanked Dana for sharing her special space with us.

I am really going to miss these garden days.

Spring Dusk

I recently strolled through Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek and captured some images of spring at dusk that I am really happy with. I've uploaded several new images from that evening to my Etsy shop including this goose and the photos that graced my last two posts here.

Dusk is one of my favorite times to take pictures. The light changes so quickly; I take a picture of something one minute and it looks completely different five minutes later, creating a new image. There is also something about the light at dusk that causes my heart to flutter. I hope you enjoy these new images!