Rose Cottage

  What a lovely week with lots of tsalagi sprinkles!  On Saturday, our Willamette TsaLaGi and the Mount Hood groups hosted folks from the Cherokee Nation for a feast and gathering in Salem, Oregon!  Principal Chief Chuck Hoskins Jr   Guests included Principal Chief Hoskins, Storyteller Robert Lewis, at large council members, and several others - plus 2 ASL interpreters! My friend ᎵᏒ (Li-sv) helped send food and volunteered at the Willamette TsaLaGi booth. When I met Chief Hoskins, I mentioned taking Cherokee online with Ed Fields, and he, in turn, mentioned that during his 'state of the nation' talk! I'm in Ed's first Cherokee ᏅᎩ (nv-gi /Four) class, and we're learning verb tenses. It's fun for all of us (Ed included!) to work with new sentences and 'Word pictures.' This week I also joined the hybrid language study group which meets at the Longhouse at Lane CC. This is where our language classes have been held - and is open for use by indigenous groups. ...

 A key practice in Reiki is to recite the Go-kai - the precepts , daily. The 4th precept is Kansha shite - be thankful/ grateful - for our life, energy,  our companions, and this amazing universe.  Daily Circle ᏔᎵ (Ta-li - two) If we wish to have a more harmonious world, and to foster a healthy environment, teachers from many paths invite us to set our intention for this, and engage with gratuitude.  Express gratitude daily: get up and give thanks to the elements: earth, air, fire and water.  A Hindu practice: touch the floor with your hand, greeting the earth before stepping out of bed.  Give thanks for food and drink Appreciate little moments of beauty and joy. Shine your light - as we see ourselves as radiant beings, we become them! Do your personal practices, and release the outcome - Tai chi, yoga, meditation, Reiki, kindness... Pay-it forward. When someone offers help, or does something kind, follow suit when you notice an opportunity.  Connect w...

  16 years ago when my old Brown Beauty broom was wearing out, I needed to find a new one, (which I still love dearly!) I'm not a naturally tidy person, and my home goes through phases and stages of order and disarray! But - I enjoy sweeping with a good broom, (and like my mom, washing dishes by hand - many handmade - in a dish pan!) 2019 Brown Beauty and magical Broom After some research, I ordered from Backwoods Broom company (Eugene), which supplied brooms used for the Harry Potter series! And though it's 15 years old, mine is still going strong!  In addition to its daily tasks, it's joined me for our local Hexendance !  McMinnville blocks off main street on the 31st, and merchants pass out treats. Our informal group meets for several practice sessions, then dances in one of the intersections - near a shop that now carries these brooms and besoms! Brooms have long been used a an aid to energetically clear one's space.  Here's a little sweeping prayer I someti...

Learning Tsalagi continues to be an awesome journey. We're over halfway through summer classes with Ed Fields, and our in-person weekend with Woy' ale Ahid' was great!  A couple of the gals and I formed a study group, and have met virtually several times.  In the go-ge-yi (spring), I made Syllabary flash cards for the 85 characters. This writing system was crafted by Sequoyah, with a character for each syllable plus the 6 vowels and s (which indicates the sound 'ss' - or a question when at the end of a word:  tsa-du-li /  you want it / tsa-du-lis / do  you want it?)   Tsalagi values Following a recent group call, I reorganized the cards into sets following the order used in the ' Let's Learn Cherokee Syllabary ' chapters. This little book was written by a speaker who learned to read and write Japanese, using a similar book to learn the kanji. Though Marc could speak Tsalagi, he couldn't read or write ( i-go-li-yes-gv ale go-we-lo-di)  the language,...

 Happy 2024!  Though January 1 is 'simply a date on the calendar,' winter is a good time to take stock of how our habits and routines fit our current needs and lifestyle! Health and fitness are often at the top of the list.  Winter waves - high tide at Depoe Bay   When I lived at Breitenbush Hot Springs retreat center 30 years ago, we suspended our educational workshops during the winter holidays, and invited guests to join us for personal retreats. As had abundant free time, we added more in-house 'Daily Well Being' offerings, which along with with meals and 24 hour use of the hot springs, were included in their stay.  I was invited to lead a couple of Tai Chi/Qigong classes during my first winter on staff. I'd had a personal Chi practice for 8 years, and while several staff members taught yoga, I missed the flow of movement of Dance and Tai Chi! (I attended another 'guest teacher's' Chi class, before offering my own!) I loved teaching the classes, and...

 As our month of Resetting winds to a close, the other facilitators and I are Reflecting on the journey.  Rose Cottage is also getting closer to completion, and I'm dreaming into my new space!! Rose cottage and garage We hope this month has given our participants an opportunity to rethink and feel into their own Living spaces, and enjoy them a bit more! As my co-facilitator Katy commented, it's not about keeping a picture-perfect or super tidy space.  It's not about decluttering and having a minimalist lifestyle - (unless that's what suits you!) It's - finding the balance that works for you, and making slight shifts Identifying your MIA - M ost I mportant A reas - and planning how to best tend them  Set up a routine - chore chart, lists, some daily tasks to tend your space Look at your home with new eyes - what appeals? What needs attention? Craft a cozy and welcoming space Perhaps you've discovered some new routines, or 'cozied-up' a nook? Some tip...