Monthly Archives: July 2011

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Revelation: Go with the Flow

Sometimes I use inspiration cards to help me write if I am feeling blocked and of course this morning my word was FLOW (which is really funny… for multiple reasons that i’ll refrain from going into).

I really do prefer when life just “FLOW’S.” I imagine myself just floating down a river… as the current naturally takes me in the direction it want’s me to go.  It reminds me of a book I am reading called “the law of attraction” – The concept explored in the book is about “letting go of resistance” and just simply letting life’s current take you in the direction your spirit wants to go in- dropping the judgement, the anxiety, the fear, letting go- surrendering… instead of rowing in the other direction. The visual idea is to drop the oars and just let myself gently drift choosing to think WITH the flow instead of AGAINST it- especially when it comes to the things I cannot change “right now.”

I want to be intentional about this word today, and notice at what point today I feel pulled in the other direction, and how many times I work against the FLOW.  I’ll try to notice that I am paddling yet again… upstream,  and how much energy that takes…. notice how how it does not give me joy but instead TAKES from my joy- I want to notice how many times it happens for me today, and believe that the choice is completely mine to to drop the oars… and just go with the FLOW.

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The Great Healer @ The House of Revelation

I am honored to have a great healer staying at my home for the next eight weeks and I would like to invite all of you who would like to come and see her for treatment. Many of you may know her as she has practiced in Rhode Island in the past.

Zellda Keath and I have a special relationship.  I feel I owe her my deepest gratitude as she came to me (literally) just in time.  I was in the depth of my deepest depression a few years back. I was too tired to disbelieve in miracles anymore- mostly because I thought that surely the only thing that could really help me would have to be.  I know now that I was dying inside.

She was the catalyst for my healing process – and became my bridge. 

In her words…..

My role is to act as a bridge between your symptoms and your body’s and your spirit’s inner wisdom, and I bring my tools of acupuncture, herbal medicine, body work and energy medicine to facilitate this process.

I’d been to acupuncture and healers before…. and I now know that not all healers are created equally, nor do they hold the same gifts.

As you read this post and if your heart or mind in any way beckons you to come… please email me and I will make sure to get you in her appointment book (rodgers107@cox.net) You will not regret it…but you may if you let this opportunity pass.

Her gifts include but are not limited to:

Acupuncture, Shamanic Journeying, CranioSacral Therapy, Diet and Nutrition, Energy Medicine, Facial Rejuvenation Therapy, Spiritual Counseling, Acutonics, Acutincture, Herbal Medicine and Detoxification. 

She specializes in treating the following:

Addiction, Allergies, Anxiety, Asthma, Back Pain and Back Disorders, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Chronic Fatigue, Colds, Cough, Flu, Depression, Diabetes, Digestion, Eating Disorders, Dermatology, Headaches, Migrane, Hearing, Heart, Immune Diseases, Muscle Aches, Neck and Shoulder Pain, Pediatrics, Pregnancy and Fertility, Sleep/Insomnia, Stress, Urology, Women’s Health.  

 

Please mention this post when you make contact so that she can offer you her services at a discount. Her email address is:  zelldakeath@hotmail.com and you are more then welcome to call if you have additional questions before booking at 401-487-2195. 

A further sign of health is that we don’t become undone by fear and trembling, but we take it as a message that it’s time to stop struggling and look directly at what’s threatening us.

Pema Chodron

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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House of Revelation For Sale: 107 Highland Avenue

Many of you have been here, and know and love this beautiful house.  I’m so sad to let it go but alas it’s kind of roomy for just the three of us, and it’s time to start fresh. I have put together a gallery of pics- all taken here on Highland Avenue.  I’d love for all of you who’ve seen it to please past this post along.  My hope for this house is that some amazing family inhabit it because it’s just that special.

Here are some details:

107 Highland Avenue, Wakefield, RI 02879 ( this will be available on MLS in the next day or two)

Asking Price: $559,000 Please Contact Bonnie at Landmark Realty in Wakefield if Interested ( bbegos@verizon.net)

  • It was built in 1890 and is in terrific condition
  • It has 5 working Fireplaces and 5 Bathrooms
  • It has hardwood floors throughout
  • It’s three stories with 4 bedrooms on the second floor and another 3 on the third floor ( The 3rd floor could easily make a great master, guest suite, or rental)
  • It’s got a beautiful yard with tons of room to play or garden
  • It sits on top of the hill with a white picket fence and it has a massive 100 year old copper birch in front that makes everyone slow down to see
  • It’s got a detached barn / garage
  • There is a small forested lot in the back- lovely to take walks in
  • Its about a 3 minute walk from downtown historic wakefield and the elementary school is directly at the end of the street from the house
  • We’ve hosted bands, weddings, and amazing parties here.
  • The front porch is to die for.
  • It would make an amazing bed and breakfast
  • It’s 1.5 hours to Boston and 3 Hours to NYC by car
  • It’s 10 minutes to the beach and 25 minutes to Newport RI
  • It’s 15 minute drive to the Meadowbrook Waldorf School 
  • It’s a HAPPY house- GREAT energy.

Thanks so much for looking and although the gallery is massive I thought it was a great way to show the various times of year etc.

Please email me: rodgers107@cox.net if you have any questions.

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Revelation: Identity

I met a woman the other day who I thought was so brave- she’d cut all of her beautiful perfect hair off and gave it to locks of love.  I was completely in awe of her courage to just do it, and live to tell.   She was beautiful, and I’m not sure what she looked like before but I’m betting she looked like herself with long hair… ah ha!

She said the hardest thing about her decision were the negative reaction of many of her friends.

“i liked it a lot better before…” and other variations were the comments.

I got that a lot when I told my friends and family i was getting a divorce…. they liked the married Monica… please, no changes welcome- please stay the way you are so that I can stay comfortable with my images of you.  uh huh.

so….I digress….

If my hair were cut short voluntarily or not you could find me in a dark closet somewhere sucking my thumb and rocking- presumably with a bottle in front of me- i’d be a wreck.

A huge potion of my identity is wrapped up in my exterior appearance-   I’ve tried not to make it an issue – but it just is.

I’m not sure how that will bode for my future based on the fact that I’m not exactly getting any younger and have no choice but to change my attitude about my looks or pray for poor eye sight.

“Dear God……its me Narcissi….”

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The Revelation Project Part XI: Meredith Armstrong

One of the most amazing things for me about The Revelation Project is the transformation that takes place from the time a woman walks in our door, to the time she leaves (and I’m not just talking about the way she looks.)  I find myself getting nervous right before the shoot about my own abilities to successfully do her hair, make-up and make her feel comfortable and when Meredith Armstrong came in it was no different.  I was astonished to learn that Meredith came to us on her actual birthday, and that she’d given herself the project as the way she wished to bring in her 37th year- wow. As I sat with her doing her hair I got to learn more about her life, and the people and places that are important to her.  I was astonished by her open-ness- and she seemed really anxious and excited to participate in the shoot- more so than most and I wondered why… what did she want to see? When i finally allowed her to stand up and look at herself she welled up with happy tears…. “oh, wow- I look so pretty!” she exclaimed.  I had to remind her that we’d have to redo make-up if she continued to cry and so I kind of dragged her away from her image and turned up the music.  Shooting Meredith was like being allowed inside of someone’s soul.  Her every emotion rushed across the plains of her beautiful face like the passing of clouds on a summer day in the big sky of Montana. This was a woman who will dive deeply with her heart into the waters of life but who wanted to be finished with the drowning and treading…. she wanted to be baptized and reborn…. and so she was.

The Interview

TRP: What did Would you tell us a little bit about yourself?

MA: I am a 37-seven year old single woman, and I work at Trader Joes.  I am a compassionate human being, avid indoor gardener, cat petter, art admirer, bug saver (not squasher) and Bee lover.  I have an open heart and cry easily.

TRP: What is the biggest challenge that’s ever faced you as a woman?

MA: My life was progressing as I always thought it would:  college, world travel, serious relationship that led to marriage, thoughts of home ownership, and a baby.  In my mid thirties, everything changed and I found myself back at square one.  My biggest challenge is to find the direction that  I want to go in, but now as a single parent with a child to raise.

TRP: Are you a mom?

MA: Yes, to the most incredible four-year old boy, who is my sunshine.

TRP: What are some of the issues that you think are important to explore as it relates to our gender?

MA: There is an image of perfection that many women feel they need to measure up to and feel less worthy if they can’t meet that unrealistic image.  Women will sometimes judge each other on surface issues based on what they see rather than what they know, leading to isolation rather than being supportive of each other.

TRP: What’s your idea of a great “girls night?”

MA: Any gathering of women with no children in tow, and a great glass of wine.

TRP: Is there anything in particular that made you feel like being part of the Revelation Project was a good idea right now?

MA: After viewing photos of the first few women in the project, I could see the joy and happiness that was brought out from the women in their pictures.  I needed help finding that joy and happiness within myself that has been buried for a good long while.

About the shoot:

TRP: What did you you think about the approach of the upcoming photo shoot (before you got there) and what were the results you were expecting?

MA: I was extremely excited about what I would find inside of me, but being the center of attention terrified me.   I was hoping that I would be able to see the same light inside of me as I had seen in the other women.

TRP: How did you feel during the shoot and was there anything in particular that made you feel more or less relaxed or open to the process?

MA: Initially I was unable to relax.  The utter acceptance and non-judgmental support I received from Robyn and Monica, along with their hilarious banter and down to earth approach allowed me to completely open up to the experience.

TRP: Can you describe in three words the way you felt before we shot

MA:  Nervous, excited, anticipatory.

TRP: Three words for after

MA:  Joy, acceptance, anticipatory

TRP: Three words for when you saw the results

MA: Insight, happiness, completion

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TRP: After you left but before you saw the results – did you have any thoughts about the experience?  What were some of the things you thought about on the drive home?

MA: I felt worthy of the attention and love that I received and a strong sense of connection to women as equals.  I could hardly wait to see the results.

TRP: When you saw the results can you tell me your first impression?

MA: I saw that there was still a lot of happiness inside of me.  I realized that I am not a size two, that I have developed wrinkles, that I have a much wider smile than I knew.  And I felt beautiful that I am not a size two, that I have developed wrinkles, and that I have a much wider smile than I knew!

TRP: Can you talk about the feedback you received from those who saw your photographs?

MA: A good friend said, “Now you can see yourself as I see you”.  Another said it was nice to see me smiling so much.  There were also a lot of compliments and praise for the beauty of the photos.

TRP: What are some words you would use to describe how you were feeling throughout the shoot?

MA: It was a cathartic experience that allowed deep emotion to come to the surface.  I felt comfortable in my own skin, accepting myself just as I was internally and externally.

TRP: Did you learn anything new about yourself from the experience?

MA: That I am not alone; I am not abnormal; I am not a “messed up person” for the challenges that I have faced in my life.  I realize that I like myself and I have the right to what I need and want.

TRP: Did you feel empowered? Why?  Why not?

MA:  I know that I am good enough today, right now.

TRP: Since the shoot happened can you talk about the lasting impact of the experience?  Has it altered the way you view yourself or your surroundings?

MA: The insight I have gained about myself has not left me.  What I realize is the importance of connecting with other women.

TRP: Do you think this was an important/valuable experience for yourself? Why?

MA: This was am important experience for me because without it, I don’t know how I would have discovered these revelations on my own.

TRP: Do you think it’s relevant for other women?  Why?

MA: This is an incredibly important way for all women to empower themselves, accept themselves and find their own beauty, inside and out.

TRP: How would you use the photos moving forward? Professionally? Personally? As gifts?

MA: They will be used possibly as gifts, but mostly as reminders of my own self worth.

TRP: What is your favorite song and why?

MA: Lately, It’s the  “Thank U” by Alannis Morrisette, now I know why

TRP: If you could sum up the experience what would you say?

MA: ***Awesome***

TRP: If someone were on the fence about doing it is there anything you would tell them about the experience or say to encourage them?

MA: I would totally tell them to do it because we all need to be reminded how beautiful we are, how strong we are, how worthy we are and that we are perfect exactly as we are. This experience illuminates these things and allows you to see this same light in the women around you.

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Revelation: The Invisible Woman

Disclaimer: I’m going to make two bold and seemingly contradictory statements and then I’m gonna just say a few more things that probably won’t make any sense.

1. Women are deeply afraid of being seen.

2. Women desperately want to be seen.

We rail and rally for the woman who wears the burqa – yet many of us cloak ourselves in our own invisible one everyday.

We don’t like to be seen…. or heard  (accountability? am I ok? am I lovable? )

We are not photogenic. Don’t like how we appear in photographs. Don’t like to look at ourselves in the mirror. Don’t like what we see. We’d rather be behind the camera. We’d like to lose the weight first. We’d rather “not say” how we really feel.

We wish with all our hearts that our loved ones would realize who we are, and consider us…more often.
We want our loved ones and those we admire to accept and appreciate us as we are.
We deeply desire acceptance and unconditional love from our friends, family, men.

How can we make that happen when we don’t /can’t /refuse to give it first to ourselves?
How can we speak to be heard when we’ve only known how to shove it down and swallow it? Let others take center stage.

“it’s just not who I am” she’ll say.

“I’m a very private person” she’ll explain quietly.

While inside the fear and longing continues.

If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always gotten. (that’s comfortable at least.)

If you always think what you’ve always thought, you will always think what you’ve already thought (and you are right.)

If you always see what you’ve always seen, you will always see what you’ve already seen. ( yawn.)

or you can

JOIN The Revelation on Facebook – and forward this post to a friend if you think it matters.

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Revelation: The Uninvited Guest

 

Photo credit: Pinterest/ Amusements

Every so often I get writers block.  I think I have nothing to say that anyone could possibly want to hear. Usually around the same time I am also looking at myself in the mirror finding flaws with my laugh lines, and sags in my swim lines *sigh* the eternal quest for happiness regardless of how you look or feel….

Usually at these moments I have to check in with myself to notice the racket that’s running in my head.  My head (mind) has this funny way of working in auto-pilot and in creeps this uninvited guest who starts to make a mess of the place.  She berates me, tells me all kinds of unkind things about myself, and works to convince me of my short comings.  She’s bossy and bitchy and rude and unkind and horribly self centered.  I’m not sure of her origin… but she’s been with me a long time, and I know her intimately which means she can really push my buttons.

Sounds like multiple personality disorder i know, but we all have one.   We all have an evil twin – the dark self who’s never satisfied, ungrateful, unlovable, invalid, unappreciated, not good enough.  If we are quiet we can hear the voice… the dis”ease” that creeps into our perfectly wonderful lives with a jack hammer and starts the demolition… the one who brings the match and gasoline to burn it all down.  The Saboteur.

Who are you to be happy? wonderful? beautiful? talented? she screams as she throws her wretched tantrum.

In these moments it’s your job to be the warrior and make your voice louder….

“WHO AM I NOT TO BE????!!!!!”

and like you would a small child… lead her to the time out chair and sit her the fuck down and if you need to by all means use some duct tape for her mouth.

Now… where were we? – ahhh yes… my beautiful laugh lines, and the sagging belly that held my beautiful children. Time to get my Bikini on and head to the beach!!!