"In the Fall of 1968 Daniel Odier left Europe for the green foothills of the Himalayas. Twenty-three at the time and fascinated by the Eastern mystics, he was looking for a master who could help him penetrate where texts and intellectual searching could no longer take  him. He wanted everything: the wisdom and spirituality gained from the life of an ascetic and the beauty, love, and sensuality of a life of passion. It was here that Odier discovered Shivaic Tantrism, the secret spiritual path that seeks to transcend ego and rediscover the divine by embracing the passions.

Tantrism is the only ancient philosophy to survive all historical upheavals, invasions, and influences to reach us intact by uninterrupted transmission from master to disciple, and the only one to retain the image of the Great Goddess as the ultimate source of power. Entire Tantric lineages have followed great women masters, and today numerous female yogis continue to transmit this age-old wisdom. After months of searching deep into the Himalayas, Odier met Devi, a great female yogi who would take him on a mystical journey like none he had ever imagined. At times moving him beyond the limits of sexual experience, at times threatening him with destruction, she taught him what it is to be truly alive and know the divine nature of absolute love."

I'm not sure what the catalyst was but I seem to have experienced a huge internal shift since the beginning of May. Maybe it's the beautiful weather we're having here in Santa Fe now that spring seems to have finally arrived. Or maybe it was the trip to Las Vegas and a much needed change of scenery. Or maybe it's because I've been working crazy ridiculous (even by my standards) hours lately and I'm finally just so exhausted that I've subconsciously let go of everything that was weighing me down. Right now I'm feeling drawn to explore the alternative healing and spiritual community here in Santa Fe.

This past week has been especially crazy as I got caught up on everythng that was put on hold while I was out of town and as I continue to prepare for my trip to Atlanta in two weeks. There's still a lot of work to be done to prepare for the Uplevel Your Business LIVE! Retreat but I'm making progress. I'm looking forward to the inspirational "boost" I always get at Christine's retreats. Insipirational, motivational, and exhausting all at the same time.

It's been a while but I'm taking time for myself this weekend.

I've planned two very relaxing days that will incorporate at some point breakfast at the Teahouse, a stroll down Canyon Road to see what's new at the art galleries, a visit to Artful Tea at the Santa Fe Farmers' Market (because I seem to have developed a tiny little addiction to their Nutty Mocha Mate and Cherry Rose White teas), a trip to The Ark for some of their lovely Amore incense, and a lot of yoga. Most of all, I'm looking forward to just getting out and wandering around in the fresh air and sunshine.

Living in Santa Fe is tough on the skin so when I arrived in Las Vegas on Sunday I dropped my luggage in my room and immediately scurried down to Lush to stock up on bath bombs and replenish my supply of facial masks and cleansers. I love that Lush stays open until 11pm during the week and midnight on the weekends.

As far as entertainment goes, gambling doesn't really interest me but I love the Cirque du Soleil shows. I wanted to see Mystere again while I was there but the theater was dark during my stay. And Zarkana was sold out. That'll teach me not to plan ahead. Hopefully I'll get a chance to catch one of them when I'm in Las Vegas in November. I'm looking for spa suites already. 

I have to confess that there's just something about Vegas that makes me want to buy clothes with rhinestones on them. So I did. I needed new jeans and a belt anyway. And a corset may have been purchased. Or three. And maybe a pair of rhinestone stripper shoes. What can I say, sometimes you just have to let the spirit move you.

And now I'm back home again in Santa Fe, getting back into my daily routine, and trying to get caught up on all of my projects. It's always nice to sleep in my own bed and wake up to the smell of fresh-brewed coffee.

I popped a rib when I was heading back home so I need to find a better laptop bag and purse to travel with. I'm open to suggestions for TSA-compliant laptop bags. I love my Timbuk2 laptop messenger bag but it's not making for a good traveling companion.

Sage

Primavera

Orchid

Ocean Storm

Speaking of Upaya Zen Center, I'm taking Calligraphy: Brush Mind from Sensei Kazuaki Tanahashi this August. It sounds like an amazing workshop... "This rare workshop offers training in classical and free Zen painting and calligraphy with the renowned master artist Kazuaki Tanahashi. We cultivate the process of creativity by reproducing ideograms and paintings from ancient Chinese and Japanese masterpieces. We interpret these works while exploring the creative process. We also create original spontaneous works, using a variety of  brushes on primitive paper. For beginners and seasoned artists.  Sensei Kazuaki Tanahashi is a master calligrapher, Dogen scholar, and social activist." I'm beyond excited about this opportunity.

Spring has finally arrived here in Santa Fe. I love this time of year. The city is starting to wake up, there are more activities and events going on, but the tourists haven't overtaken the city yet.

The art galleries are starting to hang new shows and some of the work I'm seeing from both emerging and more established artists -- Antonio Puri at NUART Gallery, Christina Chalmers at Selby Fleetwood, Nancy Scheinman at Jane Sauer Gallery, Marilyn Radzat at Chalk Farm Gallery, just to name a few -- is really incredible. It looks as though it's going to be a strong art season.

Just a few more weeks and it'll be warm enough for breakfast in the courtyard at the Teahouse. My needs are simple and I'm very much a creature of habit. A bowl of oatmeal with strawberries and tea on a Saturday morning then a ramble down Canyon Road to see what's new at the galleries is all I need to relax and get centered after a chaotic week.

And last week was a fairly chaotic one. The first part of the week was spent in San Antonio, TX and I have to tell you, I was totally underwhelmed by the city in general, as well as what I saw of the art scene there. Even the River Walk which I had heard such great things about left me feeling a bit "meh". So, unless business takes me back, San Antonio isn't a place I'll return to.

I ended the week with an astrology reading. I really should have talked to Elizabeth back in January. It would have saved me a tremendous amount of frustration and aggravation. And I wouldn't have wasted the last four month trying to "swim upstream". After the reading I treated myself to a massage at Absolute Nirvana Spa. Trust me, the name, Absolute Nirvana, says it all. By the end of the day, I felt like a new woman.

I'm off to Las Vegas, NV for a few days in early May. Vegas isn't a place I would visit for pleasure but business takes me there a couple of times a year and I always end up enjoying the trip. Las Vegas is just so over-the-top in every way that it's hard not to be entertained. Everything is so bright and shiny and sparkly. And it gives me a chance to stock up on goodies at Lush and Sephora. I love that the stores stay open until 11:00 pm during the week and until midnight on the weekend. Let's face it, Las Vegas is an insomniac's dream.

Then I'm off to Atlanta in early June for Uplevel Your Business LIVE!. I've accomplished a lot since the retreat in Asheville earlier this month (which seems like a lifetime ago for some reason) but I still have a great deal of work to do before the June event.

So I'm following Elizabeth's advice... head down and concentrating on work -- Delphi Technology, Gypsy Wolf Marketing, and Dakini Dreams -- until the Fall when my energy around relationships will start to shift.

Invierno

Hummingbird Trumpet