Rose Cottage

 Feng Shui has been an interest of mine for decades. Literally meaning 'wind and water,' Feng Shui invites us to tune into our natural environment, and appreciate our place in it.    Practioner  Amanda Gibby Peters   reminds us that our homes are always talking to us - are we listening? Here's her podcast on loving up your   front door .  A great practice - stand in front of your house and observe, as of it were your first visit - is the number clear, and the front door obvious? Does the path invite you forward? Do you feel like you'll be welcomed in? If there are steps, do they look safe? Is their a rail? Jot down your ideas on what needs improvement, invite assistance where you need to delegate. Think of what you wish to invite in, and what needs to stay away!  Welcome in... As the Lunar New Year approaches, (January 29th), there are  several things we can do in preparation to welcome the year of the Snake. The first - spruce up the entranc...

  ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ  ᎢᏤ  ᎠᏕᏘᏱᏍᎬᎢ   U-li-he-lis-di  i-tse  a-de-ti-yi-s-gv-i (happy New Year!) We've crossed the Threshold into 2025, and near the end of the month, will greet the Asian Year of the Snake (January 29). This is a great time to create 'physical  and metaphorical space for fresh Chi / energy and fortune' by clearing out old, stressed and stagnant energy from the year past.  I'm participating in the January Ultimate Blog Challenge  - always inspiring!  Buddha's Playhouse In Karen Kingston's book " Clear your Clutter with Feng Shui ," she suggests asking yourself these questions as you're clearing: Does (an object) lift my energy when I look at or think about it? Do I absolutely LOVE it? Is it generally useful? When the answer to any of these is, 'No,' it's time to move it out of our space! In her 18 day guide to making way for the new year, my friend Gwynne Warner writes, "It's absolutely fine to delegate this, it just needs...

  As October comes to a close, we are finishing our fourth and final BlogBoost challenge for 2024 - we did it! The next challenge will begin with the new year in January, so save the link!  Whether we posted daily, or just more regularly, we've all gained from the challenge.   It's always fun visiting each other's blogs, taking a kaleidoscopic peek into each other's worlds.  As this challenge ends, new opportunities beckon. F ollowing our blog challange host Paul's tips, I plan to continue posting several times a week, and visiting other blogs. Checking my stats, my most popular posts this month were about my Cherokee journey  the Blog Roll , and prequel to my Reiki 1 class .   And ... the all 'round favorite, with 435 views, is FRONT DOOR !  After teaching Reiki 1 last weekend, I committed to joining my students in doing self Reiki and supporting practices for 21 days. I plan to post practices and tips on my K ing's Touch Reiki  blog...

 Firstly, ᏩᏙ - Thank you  for visiting Rose Cottage, and reading my adventures! I have a wee favor to ask of you! Now that you are here, what would you like to know? Have any of my recent posts that stirred your curiosity? Door into mystery I s there a question you would like answered? Perhaps you're curious about our move to Rose Cottage, or setting space.  Or - do you have an old story  that keeps replaying? Would you like a process to help shift or even alchemize it?  You're invited to ask me something, or share a  trouble.  Tomorrow, I will select a few of your questions and offer my answer!  So, leave a comment below and ask me a question! Thanks 🌱  Nadya

   In just 4 days, we meet for our Reiki I class - are you ready? (Though I've posted it on my women's creative group, this class is open to both women and men, and children over 12) This is always a precious time of anticipation and preparation, for both students and teacher. I'll be pulling together handouts and supplies, and getting my extra massage table from storage.  Reiki Class in progress Several students will be joining from our community, plus a few family members. I always look forward to seeing how the class unfolds, and the insights that sparkle through.  At times, students ask 'how to decide' where they fit on the sliding scale. Since I began teaching Reiki in the fall of 1991, I've wanted to make Reiki initiation available to anyone who felt called to do the work. I've also realized, like Hawayo Takata, that there needed to be an 'energy exchange' for students to value the teachings. In her stories about Reiki, Mrs Takata shared that ...

  One of the joys of blogging is 'meeting' others through their blogs! One of our prompts on the October Ultimate Blog Challeng e was to write about blogs you enjoy and follow.  For a number of years, I joined the Friday 'Paint Party' blog roll, and had several favorite blogs i visited regularly! It was a treat seeing many styles, and I enjoyed the perspectives of those writing in other countries.  Moon journal I was disappointed when the group disbanded a few years back .... Checking an old link, I discovered some of my favorite bloggers are still going strong, and participate in current blog rolls prompting creative projects! ( Here's one  blog roll, if you enjoy art blogs!) One is Valarie-Jael   (Germany) whose art and reflections I always enjoy. Want a virtual coffee companion? Dora / Peppy-Lady  (Idaho) is a gem - and the Coffees usually on at her place!   Feng Shui and creating cozy spaces is another longtime interest, and blogs are a good w...

 For the last several years , church members and friends have been invited to spend a fall weekend at Camp Arrah Wanna, on the beautiful Salmon River in the Cascades, near Y'East (Mount Hood). Some congregants grew up coming to camp when young, as have my grandkids.  Salmon - in the Salmon River  This year, all our group's camp fees were covered by a Calvin Grant, which pastor Erika wrote for the 52 week Seasons of Wonder devotional, by (Bonnie Smith Whitehouse). In adition to the books, the grant has funded supplies for recommended creative projects, and field trips, which Bonnie recommends to add depth.  This spring, I led a session on making rose beads as part of a session on making rosaries, and my daughter, grandkids and I have joined field trips.  John, Shelly and pastor Erika Our camp time includes ample free periods in addition to meals, workshops and group activities. My daughter, her 13 year olds and I came this year.   Saturday morning, Lar...

 I'm enjoying the challenge of writing more frequent blog posts as I participate in the Ultimate Blog Challenge - yet sometimes, I'm stuck for what to write! I often address this by a gentle recycle and rewrite of content from an older post!  When I supported 'Muse Time' / extension students of a 9 month teacher training, I shared this tip on 'harvesting' content from our own work for our blog/s and website.  I love to write - and I am  lazy   frugal  enough to want to use what I've written different ways! One is to share between blogs ( True confession: I have several !!)  I have borrowed content from a personal blog, and reposted it on one of the support blogs, editing to match my audience. I often cross post between Instagram or Facebook and my blog. Atelier Altar I began my first blog ( Creation Station ) after reading an article about how simple they were, and that one could be set up in 15 minutes - who could resist??  And it worked!! Wow! A...

 Being human can be thought of as a dance of finding balance between our connections and our own unique spark, our place and purpose.  In Okinawa, home of more centenarians than most other areas of the globe, discovering one's purpose is a key factor to well being, and is called Ikigai . When we align with our values and purpose, we are more content in good times, and resilient in times of stress. This in turn can lead to enhanced health and wellbeing.  Some factors which promote my sense of well being include enjoying a mainly whole foods diet (with a preponderance of local,  fiber rich foods, fresh when possible), moving throughout the day, spending time outside, connecting with friends and family, and engaging in creative pursuits.   For over 40 years, I've been engaged in Healing Arts as a Licensed Massage Therapist, and feel inspiring others fulfills my sense of purpose. I've always identified a creative, and enjoy teaching creating and healing. ...

 A fall treat in Yamhill County (named for the local indigenous tribe) is our Art Harvest Studio tour, and this year marked the 30th tour! Over 60 local Artists have opened their studios, or are displaying in a shared space for two weekends! Tour brochure I met my friend Audrey at Currents Back Door Studio (where I've led Red Thread circles and offered classes) to see the work of 3 artists. Then upstairs to the Rose of 3rd which is always a treat!  This year, folks could get a preview of work by each of the artists in the ballroom at 'The Rose' or at the Newberg Cultural Center throughout September. Three of artists display their pieces in the front room, and 3 in the ballroom of this lovely Mission style space.  Spiral necklace by Debra Franciosi I often choose a piece of jewelry or pottery- this year the copper and silver necklace called! (And goes beautifully with the earrings I got last year from another artist on the tour, Maggie Bowman) Audrey and I then walked fro...

  In her post for our October blog challenge, a Julie wrote that rather than trying to explain the several personal projects she's undertaking, she's begun saying, 'I'm sort of on a pilgrimage!'  This response makes room for further discussion - or you can simply move on! Ꮡ - su (Simply Cherokee) Since spring, I've been enrolled in the live  ᏗᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗ -  dideloquasdi   (school/ learning) via online classes, via the ᏣᎳᎩ - Tsa-la-gi   (Cherokee) Nation !  The weekly classes are offered at no charge to the students, and I'm on a pilgrimage of my own! Taught by first language speaker Ed Fields, with assistance from Meli (Mary Rae - who began studying with Ed nearly a decade ago), these classes offer a wonderful glimpse into the world view and culture!  (Here's  Meli and Ed's site  which includes little word puzzels) The online classes are open to anyone who wishes to learn Cherokee, no matter your heritage nor location. In pers...

 Since childhood, I've looked forward to fall and 'October's Bright Blue Weather,' a second summer that often comes to us in Oregon. Sunny days, cooler nights, pumpkins and fall flowers... rain beginning, someone's storms - and these beautiful blue skies! Elder, ginkgo and maple In January and again in the fall, I enjoy participating in the Ultimate Blog Challenge , reading other blogs and writing for my own, building connections and virtual friendships.  Check out the challenge in our FB group - it's a great way to exercise your writing and networking muscles!  Fall garden A lifelong writer and diary keeper, I've been blogging periodically for 2 decades, after reading an article on how simple it is to begin! Over the years I've begun several, and enjoy this way of reflecting on my life and times. What's your favorite way to record your reflections?