Going home

This amazing tree is growing near the Chinese border in the very Southeast corner of Kazachstan. In the second photo ...that's me in the reddish shirt. There were 8 of us around the tree! This tree is said to be 1700 years old....and all the little trees around it grow up in a way to shield the tree from the high winds and other natural forces that could harm the mother tree. The place is a treasure and the energy beneath is sacred ground. I don't know the "name" of the tree but the sap is black and can be drunk as is. It is kind of sweet. The leaves look a bit like elm leaves but grow in another formation on the branches.
The third photo is of three lovely village people who live next to the tree. They are posing for my camera spontaneously! And with such joy. A simple life.

I went home thinking of this simple life.....and then a Reiki colleague sent me a lovely book....called " A different kind of Luxury" by Andy Couturier

This book has touched a cord in me that runs deeply through all of my life. A longing to have every little moment in life be a thoughtful one. This life is not easy and does not have all the "labor saving" devices in it. The value is back to personally touching the necessities of life and knowing that what I have in the moment is all I need and desire.

Tonight I am leaving the islands and going home to Arizona. As I pack...with all the things that I carry with me "just in case!" I realize that I am far from a simple life. My question is.....Is this kind of life possible? What will it take to leave the mountain of necessary things from this world of material luxury and find another kind of luxury......time.

The tree, the ocean, the mountains of Hawaii, remind me that happiness is often housed in the simplicity of the moment.

I believe that this is my prayer for this next year....and for the remainder of my life.

It will take courage and willingness to value who I am without all the trappings of the modern world. Is this possible? I will see!

Aloha! Phyllis

Where does time go?

Me.....in the Maui sun!

I thought I was going to be talking with you every week for a while. Now it has almost been another month..well, okay, I have been on vacation. Not just a pretend vacation where I actually spend three or four hours on the computer a day...but a real vacation! It seems as though I was exhausted from my travels to Almaty and to Hawaii ....all the people I talk to over the internet and in person. So the 10 days I really had as down time were well spent.

Now some of you would not count this as a true holiday. My German friend used to tell me that one needs three weeks to really have a holiday. One week for just winding down from stress. Another week getting used to doing nothing...which means you don't really do nothing. And then the last week....finally you are on holiday! Seems like a good recipe! So I have just taken a baby step in holiday making. But I am proud of it!

I got back in touch with the ocean and snorkeling. This was fun and really satisfying. For the last years I have been a little scared of being in the sun and being in the water....I felt weak and not up to the surf. But this last week, I had a wonderful time snorkeling in some fairly rough waters. We went out on the Trilogy which is a large sailing catamaran. We went two places to snorkel....Molikini Crater and Turtle Town. We ended up seeing whales, Spinner Dolphins and Turtles....as well as numerous fish...including NEMO!

This time was a good experience of feeling the difference of last year when I was on Maui and this year. I am so much more confident and clear. So there is improvement happening!

I have been spending time on the computer trying to get the new website written so we can launch it soon...I will let you know! And putting the finishing organizational touches on the 2012 schedule for Paul and me. My schedule is busier this coming year and more stimulating. I will be in the UK for a couple of events and will be going on an extended tour of South America in the latter part of the year. This is exciting and some what daunting. I need to include those pesky rest days...meaning that the trips will be longer than usual and doing less. Hmmm. And I am happy to have the Kenyon Ranch so close to home for those events that will be scheduled for those weeks at home.

When the schedule is finished.....or ready to be seen, I will post it here for you all.

Well, time has slipped by again and it is time for me to get ready for a dinner out with some friends in Honolulu. I am staying on Oahu to do a weekend retreat here on the north shore.....and to see old Reiki friends and be in touch with the city in which I most connect to my grandmother. There is a sweet longing to turn back the hands of time.....and ask her all those questions I have had over the years. I will let you know if she answers me!

Aloha! Phyllis