Panama City Beach, Florida ~ Spring Break 2013

 A few days at the beach never fails to renew my spirits.  Although the weather was too bad to rent a boat, which is what I really wanted to do, I still had a great time adventuring around the area.  

Here's a link to the Photo Album from this trip to Panama City Beach, Florida

Becoming the artist of your own life.

A word with Lisa Rae Muir
Artist, Shamanic Practitioner, Reiki Master, Life Coach

Lisa Rae Muir is a facilitator of change.  An artist and energy healer, she skillfully combines different methods to help herself and her clients realize happier and more peaceful lives.

I was fortunate enough to have recently crossed paths with Lisa Rae at a shamanism workshop in Sarasota, Florida.  By means of a few fated events, we ended up connecting afterwards and I am proud today to call her a friend.

Lisa Rae was gracious enough to accept my request of interviewing her.  I hope you will enjoy this insight into a diverse and gifted healer, Lisa Rae Muir.

**A word of thanks**
Lisa's willingness to answer these questions has given me an opportunity for which I will always be grateful.  I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to her. 

I was intrigued by the diversity of her work from the get-go, but Lisa has willingly shared layers of herself that have taught me some valuable lessons.  In a dynamic that continues to unfold in the most interesting of ways, my interactions with this beautiful soul continue to make me smile, while reminding me to really enjoy life.

Now, to the actual interview...

As a life coach, energy worker, intuitive and shamanic practitioner, how do the  methods you practice compare and which are your favorites?

Lisa Rae Muir

Lisa:  They are similar to one another in that intuition plays a significant role in getting to the heart of how to help a client in transition.  I say 'in transition" because I feel that whatever brings a client to me, it is usually a strong indication that a change of some sort, on some level, to one degree or another is necessary. How I blend the methods really depends on the client's comfort level, needs and goals. It is important for me to gain trust in order to get the best result.

Each method has it's own unique qualities, but my favorite way to work is with the freedom to create a course of action that allows for integration of any or all of these methods.

Can you describe your art and what mediums you prefer?
Lisa:  I work in a variety of styles, mostly botanical, collage and what I call metaphorical portraits. The last of these oftentimes is a combination of the first and second in order to create a piece of work that is both visually and intellectually interesting. While I loved working with oils, my health demanded I find a more suitable medium. Soft pastels give me the flexibility and degree of comfort I require. Applying pastels to sandpapers or velour give me the color saturation and vibrancy I am known for.

Where do you find inspiration for your artwork?

Lisa:  By looking outside at nature and inside with meditation, there is plenty of inspiration. I am blessed to live in an environment where there is color year-round, and I have the opportunities to travel to other places. My photographs offer great referrals and memories from which to draw (no pun intended). I love vibrant color and fluid movement.

Where can someone buy your pieces and do you offer commissioned work?
Lisa:  My work can be viewed at LisaMuirOriginals.com. If there is interest in purchasing a piece, there is a contact page, and I show my email address on the home page. I do offer commissioned work based on a variety of criteria such as size and subject matter.

"Applying pastels to sandpapers or velour give me
the color saturation and vibrancy I am known for." - Lisa Rae Muir

Tell me about your meditation workshops.
Lisa:  My meditation workshops or classes are more than guided meditations. While all levels of experience are welcome, most of the students are beginners. With that in mind, I like to give background information about meditation, such as the why, what is it, and how. I stress the importance of grounding and starting out slowly so as not to have anyone become discouraged if they find sitting in a quiet place for long periods of time difficult.

Can you give me an example from your own life when meditation has been important?
Lisa:  Meditation is what brought me where I am today. It is how I discovered my purpose as a teacher and a healer. It also created inspiration for a body of art work. Meditation has become tightly woven to the fabric of my daily life.

What are some of the pitfalls that one needs to be aware of when practicing meditation?
Lisa:  The biggest pitfall is setting oneself up for discouragement at the get-go by getting hung up on non-existent “rules.” Of course there are guidelines, but I encourage my students to allow their practice to evolve into a sacred activity that is their very own. After all, it's called a “practice” for a reason. In other words, there is no goal of perfection one must reach before feeling as though it is being done correctly. The most important goal is to make the effort and set aside the time to do it and stick with it without expectations or judgments.

What are the most common questions your clients have for you?
Lisa:  The number one question is, “How do I turn my brain off?” The answer is, “You can't.” Meditation is about slowing down the constant racing thoughts and focusing inward. I call it dropping from the mind and into the heart. When they ask how long it will take to stop the interrupting wayward thoughts, I tell them to not worry about those thoughts and come back to the focus with their breath. It's simply a change in where the attention is placed.
The second question or misconception is that meditation is a religion. It is not, and so it does not conflict with any organized religion or spiritual practice I am aware of. In fact, it can enhance and deepen a belief system. There is no dogma or chain of command one has to understand and adhere to. Meditation is a very personal practice that is solely between the practitioner and his or her conception of a higher power, angels, nature spirits, the elements, the authentic self, etc.

How do you usually connect with your clients?
Lisa:  My clients and students usually find me through word of mouth or an announcement from the facility holding the classes. I also have a website that will come up if someone is searching for the types of services and classes I offer, along with a schedule of events. The link to my website is: LisaRaePracticalWisdom.com.

How would you say your clients would normally describe their lives before and after their sessions with you?
Lisa:  First-time meditation students are usually worried they cannot sit and be still for any length of time, and they laugh when I tell them not to get too comfortable because they might fall asleep. It's pretty amazing to see who ends up doing just that! They are relaxed and always tell me how well the rest of their day and sleep time went. Those who come on a regular basis talk about how meditation has changed their lives for the better. They are more relaxed and less prone to reacting to triggers that once upon a time caused anger and anxiety. They get along better with their partners and co-workers and have a general sense of peace.

A Lisa Rae Muir Original

In the case of coaching, there is also a gradual shift that occurs to change the client's life for the better. Do you know why? Because they have been empowered by actively participating. They understand that there are so many more possibilities than they could have ever imagined. They learn to give themselves permission to do what it takes to change their reality. The most motivated clients do the work and commit themselves to following through. This in turn leads to their goals being reached, and they have a new sense of self-respect and integrity. My hope is to teach them self-reliance and the fact that no one knows them better than they know themselves. They learn to get from where they are to where they want to be. This requires a shift in thinking and behavior.
Frequently, there is a need for healing in order to facilitate that shift. Energy work helps address old wounds and habits (known and unknown), which prevent the client from moving forward. Channeling Reiki promotes relaxation in order to facilitate stress-relief, balance, and the clearing of blocks. The shamanic journey is also a way to retrieve the client's power and receive guidance from compassionate spirit helpers.

Do you ever find a healing for yourself in client sessions?
Lisa:  I always experience a healing for myself. The work I do is so rewarding because of the balance of give and take that's inherent in everything I do.

What advice do you have for someone wanting to create positive change in their life?
Lisa:  Give yourself the gift of taking yourself from the bottom of your list of priorities. How can you effectively take care of others and perform your best at your career and day-to-day living when you are not taking care of yourself? For a lot of people, that is a new concept because we have been taught by society that taking care of ourselves is selfish. It is not. That single decision is the first step towards creating positive and lasting change. A big part of that decision may be to find a professional you can trust that can give you the support you need in a non-judgmental atmosphere. How do you find that professional? We live in an age of easily-accessible information. That being said, there is sometimes so much information, we become overwhelmed. We were all born with an intuitive gift that is there whenever we ask for it. Ask for help in whatever way connects you to your inner wisdom, whether it be prayer, meditation, taking a walk in nature, etc. I personally use all these methods, and sometimes I just say out loud, “Please, please show me the way. Guide me to the person who can help me with (then be specific about what I'm looking for).” The help always turns up in one way or another. Having faith and a sincere, clear desire go a long way toward finding what you need. From there, anything and everything is possible!

What resources (blogs, websites, organizations, coaches, books, etc) would you recommend for someone wanting to learn more about spiritual healing and meditation? 
Lisa:  The book I recommend to those wishing to begin a meditation practice is Meditation and Relaxation in Plain English by Bob Sharples. Guided meditations and relaxing music can be found at Amazon.com, YouTube and iTunes. For intuition development and spiritual healing, my mentor, Sonia Choquette, has several amazing books, on-line and in-person workshops. Visit her site at soniachoquette.net. My personal favorites are Trust Your Vibes and Ask Your Guides. To learn more about Reiki, I like Reiki for Life by Penelope Quest. Awakening to the Spirit World by Sandra Ingerman and Hank Wesselman goes beyond introduction to Shamanism in an easy-to-understand writing style. There is also a drumming CD for journeying included with the book. All of the above-mentioned books may be found at Amazon.com.

What makes anything possible for you?
Lisa:  Truly believing and having faith in reaching positive goals and realizing the results of affirmations make anything possible.  The power of positive thinking is not merely a cliche.  It works.

How do you stay grounded?
Lisa:  Meditation and living in the present helps me stay grounded. If I'm feeling out of focus and meditation is not an option, I close my eyes (assuming I'm not driving), take a few deep cleansing breaths and reconnect to my True Self. Humming, singing and dancing are also fabulous, fun ways to ground and activate energy centers.

We recently attended the same shamanism workshop.  Can you tell me what you took from that experience?
Lisa:  The Foundation for Shamanic Studies teachers, Dana and Shana Robinson, put together a weekend full of information and chances to experience basic core shamanism, didn't they? The more I study shamanism, the more I see the amazing ways Spirit communicates with us in a way we each understand and gives us the ability to facilitate healing ourselves and others. It's very personal, and yet I found a sense of community and support between the participants. Forming new relationships, such as with you, Katy, was a bonus gift.

What are your greatest joys in life?
Lisa:  My greatest joys are spending time with my family and friends, being in nature, the many forms of artistic expression, travel and more. I really enjoy life!  Believe it or not, I love to experience the diversity of our beautiful country by riding my motorcycle across the scenic back roads and by-ways with my husband leading the way. I truly feel a loving oneness to the Great Spirit and Creator that lives in my heart. That's joy!

Connect with Lisa:

LisaRaePracticalWisdom.com

LisaMuirOriginals.com

More Resources:
The Foundation for Shamanic Studies Workshop Page
Penelope Quest's Website - Author of "Reiki for Life" and more
Sonia Choquette's Website - Author and Spiritual Teacher
Sandra Ingerman's Website - Author of Awakening to the Spirit World
Order one of Sandra's amazing books or CDs by CLICKING HERE

~Morning Meditation~

~Morning Meditation~

Setting an intention to carry with me throughout the day can change my day in just about any way that I decide. 

Today, I am waking up to a freezing cold 2nd day of Spring. I am going to warm myself from the inside-out through my thought for the day...

"My controlled breathing pushes warm, oxygenated blood through every part of my being, reaching the tips of my fingers and toes and warming them."

Artist: unknown

Greenpeace and Arctic Drilling

I was chatting with an old friend this morning and we laughed when we talked about me always having had a little bit of hippy in me. We were laughing about how all I ever aspired to do when I was a teenager and young adult, was to join Greenpeace.

I guess growing up in the days of post-Vietnam, free-love and watching shows like Wild, Wild World of Animals (you gotta love William Conrad!), might've had something to do with it. But, it's true, I've always wanted to take some part in creating a social revolution.

Although I'm not sailing away on some Greenpeace ship, cutting dolphins free from nets or throwing my body in front of a bulldozer in the rainforest, I figured I could do my small part by promoting a really important effort by this group.

Please join me in telling President Obama to make Arctic drilling 'off limits'

Visit this link right away to make your voice heard:
CLICK HERE

About the campaign:

Shell has abandoned its plans to drill for oil in the Arctic waters off the coast of Alaska in 2013.

It’s big news. But just the start of something bigger. Now it’s time for President Obama to abandon the idea of Arctic drilling completely and declare the Arctic ‘off limits’ to industrial exploitation, forever.

Shell was supposed to be the best of the best, but the long list of mishaps and near-disasters from the company’s failed attempt to drill in the Arctic last summer is a clear indication even the ‘best’ companies can’t succeed in Arctic drilling.

President Obama and his administration gave Arctic drilling a chance and Shell blew it. It’s time we kick our addiction to fossil fuels and deal with global warming decisively. That starts today and it starts with leadership from President Obama.

Take action today and join the campaign to protect the Arctic. Tell President Obama to make Arctic drilling ‘off limits’. Forever.

Visit this link to send your message now:
CLICK HERE

Leveraging Love with Expectations & Some Rules I've Learned to Live By

Conflict is rooted in expectations and you're either failing to define them, or you're not living up to them. This could be conflict within yourself or within a relationship. But, when you can define what it is that you want for yourself and others, it will start to propel you in the direction of that desire.

What you do after the expectation is not met though, is the true test of a relationship. It's at this point, that conflict will either be created or not. So, how you handle yourself after a failure will either make your relationship stronger or it will weaken it.

So, once I've let myself or my partner down, I have a few choices in what I'm going to do. Let's say I had promised myself that I would practice Yoga on a particular day and then came up with every excuse in the book not to go, and then secretly ended up at the local watering hole, drinking Moscow Mules and eating a greasy burger while all my fellow Yogis were sweating their asses off. (Not that I would ever do anything like that! Lol). I'm going to have to choose to handle letting myself down in either a positive or a negative way.

I am either going to beat myself up over it and think about all of the bad things that I'm doing to myself. Or, I will choose to believe the best about myself, knowing that I will get right back up and be just fine. There is way more value in the latter, because handling the failure to meet expectations in a positive way will naturally start to pull me in that direction.

By reacting in a positive way to this let down, I also will not be causing the additional conflict of demeaning myself, such as lower self esteem and even less motivation. Instead, I will be communicating love, compassion, trust and acceptance for myself. This automatically makes me a stronger and happier person, the same way it would in a relationship if there were a similar failure to meet expectations.

These are some of the rules that I have learned to live by:
~ Start with setting expectations.
~ Avoid conflict in the first place, by trying to meet those expectations.
~ A failure is an opportunity to love myself or another person.
~ Believing the best will create a positive energy, naturally pulling me towards it.
~ Assuming the worst will cause conflict.
~ The choice to build love is mine.

My Intentions Journal ~ a new page on my blog

Each time before I meditate or practice Yoga, I set an intention. This simple technique is a powerful way of making a commitment to myself and is an active way of me getting the most out of my practice.

I sometimes use intentions as a way to focus on resolving a particular issue. It can also be a way of healing myself or others. Injecting energy into a situation by focusing on it as an intention can promote well-being. This is basically how prayer works - you're sending your thoughts and energy towards a situation - basically, you're sending healing.

I recently started keeping a journal of my intentions and will be sharing it here on a page of my blog. I write these thoughts down each time before my practice and sometimes make notes afterwards. I then repeat them to myself several times before and during practice, either out loud or silently.
I hope you will enjoy them, and if you have intentions of your own that you would like to share, please feel free to email me anytime.

I did want to note, these are intentions mostly from my Yoga practice and sometimes personal meditations. These are not the same kind of intentions used in a private client session or in any spell casting that I might do. Client confidentiality prevents me from sharing personal information like that, and with spell work, I've always been of the opinion, that you should not reveal your intentions.

Enjoy! :)

Here's what I've got so far...

My Intentions Journal

~ Be the tree. I start this meditation or Yoga practice by closing my eyes, taking a few deep breaths and imagining roots wrapping around my feet and ankles. I visualize them interpenetrating my lower legs and growing deep into the ground. I then visualize my upper half extending into the sky and beyond, pointing towards the bright light of the sun like the leaves of a tree would.
This intention is very grounding. As I focus on it, I am more stable in my poses and concentrated in thought, wiping out all of the stress of the day by pointing all of my thoughts in this one single direction.
This same visualization of the roots and and branches, is also the basis for a lot of the other intentions I set.
~ Change my thoughts. I learned this powerful intention from an amazing and gifted Yoga teacher, Bethany from Red Hot Yoga in Atlanta (www.redhotyoga.com). One day in practice she was driving us to exceed our limits and told us, "If you don't like your thoughts, CHANGE THEM!" Wow, really?!?! It's that easy? Actually, it is. This is your mind...these are your thoughts...you own them...you can change them.
When I am working with this intention, I remind myself when I go into a pose, or face a challenge in concentrating in meditation, that I can change the thought I am having at that moment. "This is too hard" becomes, "I will go 1 inch deeper into this pose." More times than not, I achieve the goal I set my mind to.
~ Feel the roots grounding me. If I look at where I was when I started my practice, I can tell, practicing this intention is no ordinary or casual approach to my exercise and meditation. Feeling the roots wrapping themselves around me and securely fastening me to the ground, is an active way of maximizing each part of my practice. I am always more balanced and concentrated as I focus on these roots, can stay in poses longer and feel more grounded than ever when I am done.
~ Let the energy flow in. As opposed to focusing on the lower half of me as with the roots, this intention takes my concentration to the upper half of my body. I visualize the flow of the crown of my head opening up to the sky and my arms stretching out, the light from my fingertips extending and wrapping around the sky and beyond the stars. You can imagine this energy of everything out there in the Universe as swirling all around and making its way back down through the top of your head, soaking into your body from the top-down.
This is a wonderful way to put a smile on your face if nothing else. It makes me feel lighter and more clear headed.

Zesto's Nut Brown Crown ~ Ecstasy in a Cup!

Laundry day's only saving grace - the untouchable butterscotch brown crown from the ultra cool Zesto's on Piedmont.

Since 1954 they've been serving up Atlanta's best burgers, chili dogs and of course their famous nut brown crown soft serve masterpieces. These creations start with a dipped cone (butterscotch or chocolate, depending on the location), which is ever so carefully rolled in chopped peanuts.

I get mine served upside down in a cup. It's one of my favorite treats on Saturday afternoons when I'm doing laundry at Splash, over in the Lindberg area of Atlanta.