Invisible Ceilings and My New Day...

Lots of questions, discussions, shedding, idea-storminations… happening with my souLodge sisters and then ahhhh, a magical Soul-Storming hour…

I don’t often speak well with words, they often come in small bursts or blurbs of thought that only my soul might understand. My heart sees with imagery more often and so I share with you a few words from what shines in me today and a picture to input in the universal GPS (heart you big Maya for that one)

 

A realization – Every time the lottery gets large I find myself dreaming of having just a portion of that kind of money and visualizing how I would spend my days if I did.

Why do I need to gamble to live the life I fantasize of? What if my heart work sustained me with bounty, allowed me to play out my days doing what I love and sharing that with others. Why do I put limits on my income and what is possible in my heart? I don’t need to win the lottery to pay off my student loans and old credit card debt; to be happy; to stand barefoot in the grass with hands-raised each morning to the east saying thank you.

I am ready to bust open that portal of universal energy of bounty; to share my hearts work; to not live on autopilot with a default of numb.

I want my life to rejuvenate ME every day. I want to consciously create a legacy that shows gratitude and kindness to this universe, to give back and let it sustain me well.

I’ve seen so many women in my life live with this invisible ceiling of possibility.  Our journeys are all different but so much is available to us in this world, if we invite it to the party. So much of our energy is what we surround ourselves with. Art, metal, stones, crystals and gems, sacred talisman and guides - they carry energies that can help balance and protect us on our walks.

Soul work, dream work, journey work is hard, it kicks your ass to the curb and leaves you crying out amounts of snot that no tissue can absorb, then it picks you up and carries you through the front door and hands you a celebratory cocktail.

I take that cool drink today and say cheers - screw that ingrained teaching that I have to live with an invisible ceiling. I hereby promise to un-school my brain from that societal bullshit.

What is your default? How can you break through your invisible ceiling and let your leaves and branches breathe and show their light? 

Aho. 

PS - Stay tuned - big changes coming to Twisted Whimsy as my hope is to help adorn your journey and provide you with pieces of my heart that you can carry and soak positive energy from. 

 

Looking from Above

Sometimes we have to close our eyes and reopen them with a new perspective.

We look forward so much. In the car, our eyes are glued to the traffic ahead. At work, we glare blindly straight at the computer screen. Or ahead from the couch to the TV or iPhone.

I learned a lesson the other week, so focused on my task to clear out overgrown brush in my yard... I didn't look down to see the poison ivy surrounding me (which led to the most horrible itchy rash I've had since the chicken pox when I was 7!) 


We can learn a lot from our winged friends, as they circle and soar from above. Taking in the big picture, which helps them focus on what sustains them.


Love to Pixie Campbell and my SouLodge sisters for their continued support and inspiration to see views I never imagined.

Use your flight to its highest abilities. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and look at life with a new perspective. Aho.

 

Rooting in Solitude

I love to be in the mix of my community, my family, hear the noise and the laughter and occasionally the tears. But it’s draining as well and I often need to step away, be alone.

People used to tell me that was because I was introverted or shy like that was a bad thing.

But I’m learning that going into solitude is ok. 

Fills my cup, replenishes, place my feet on the ground and and feel my soul connect to the earth and what’s important.

Let nature wrap her warmth around me like the safety of the womb. Listening to my heartbeat and what the rhythm yearns for.

Be wide open to the world around you, reconnect to your inner child, don't be afraid to sit alone and reground your soul.

http://pinterest.com/pin/260645897154377600/

http://pinterest.com/pin/163959242654163511/

http://pinterest.com/pin/135178426285362530/

http://pinterest.com/pin/233202086925087977/

The Mountains are Calling and I Must Go…

"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Finding inspiration in some outdoor beauty...

photo credits:
http://frommoontomoon.blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html
http://thehemloft.com/
http://www.etsy.com/listing/86774299/arizona-open-road-photo-art-print-desert
http://www.sfgirlbybay.com/2012/04/23/secret-hideout/

 

Life Under Glass

Spring is in full bloom here in Maryland. I can not get enough of putting my hands in the dirt and planting flowers and getting the garden beds ready. I would sit outside with my feet in the grass and my face to the sun, all day, everyday, if I could. 

I work with a woman who is severely allergic to any type of flower or plant, so I'm unable to have any at my desk. Then I saw Etsy was having a workshop on terriums and I thought what a great idea! Little green life all enclosed and under glass, for my desk! So of course I'm all over Pinterest looking for ideas! I especially love the ones that reuse glasswear that would otherwise be tossed.

 

Have you guys tried any DIY terrariums? What fun containers can you think to reuse? I'm on a search for something fun to use!

All pictures are either property of Twisted Whimsy or from Pinterest.

Front Page!

So my dream is to one day (soon I hope) be a feature on etsy's blog in their "quit your day job" series. I don't mind where I work now and the people are great but I really want to be my own boss, make my own hours and make a living doing what I truly love. On Sunday I checked my Twisted Whimsy email account and saw tons of people had added me to their circles. Turns out one of my treasuries had made it to the front page of etsy.com.

While I know I still have a way to go to be able to quit my day job, seeing my name there on the front page was a reminder of my goal and an inspiration that I'm one step closer.

You can check out the wonderful items in the treasury here: Spring into I Do
Thanks to all the sweet shops that gave me inspiration that day :)

Today's shop in the series is super awesome, hoakonhelga. I loved her story and her lovely words to keep plugging and believe it'll happen.


Peace & Whimsy,
Joanna

Crazy Sexy Life

A couple days ago I pulled out my book by Kris Carr, Crazy Sexy Diet

If you haven't added this one to your bookshelf it is a must have. She is a fierce wellness warrior and inspiration for a total life upgrade. It's not a diet book at all, it's more about getting back to real food, putting our true selves first and as the book cover says "ignite your spark and live like you mean it."

But it's not always easy right? I often struggle with that word perfection. If I can be the best, I'm defeated. I don't even want to try.  As so often happens the universe drives me someplace to kick my ass out of the pity party and defeat...I ventured to Kris' blog tonight and was scrolling through and found the most amazing post, by Sherold Barr. 

She asks the question does perfect really matter. Not really, that you have to be willing to "suck" to live your best life.  But suck doesn't really mean suck the way you first think...
She goes on to say that means you have to be... 

-Willing to show up and take action.
-Willing to accept whatever comes back to you -– be it praise or criticism.
-Willing to be vulnerable.
-Willing to do what you love no matter what anyone thinks.
-Willing to break the rules.
-Willing to be fearless.
-Willing to do what you want to do, not what others want you to do.

 

and the one that really stood out to me:

-Willing to look underneath shame and acknowledge the universal belief with which we all struggle, from time to time that tells us, “I am not good enough.”

Because guess what... you are enough! I might make that my new mantra.