I’m have often been asked, since I work in alternative therapies, why are you still in nursing? To be honest, because it is my choice. This choice is multifactorial. I worked very hard for my nursing license and it is something you have to stay active in practice in order to be competent.  Nursing is a service that humanity will always need, and despite any economy, a job to be had. More important, I’m good at nursing. Nursing as a career came naturally to me….a natural progression of life. I’m caring and I’m compassionate and a huge patient advocate. The best part of nursing to me is the patients and where I work now, The VA, offers a population that is often appreciative of care received.  Likewise, I know I make a difference in nursing and I am providing a service to my community.

However, nursing can be a very tough career. You are often physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted at the end of your shift. It is at these times that I remind myself of my choices and why I made them as well as incorporate practices of well-being. 

There is a lot of over lapping between my nursing career and my holistic practice. It is only natural. Being who I am in both practices gives me the opportunity to be an example of living my beliefs. I think this gives the most powerful message, especially in nursing. I have had other nurses tell me that they would not have had the courage to advocate as I have.  I know the issues I have advocated have made a huge difference in many ways and often in ways unknown.  Empowerment, inspiration and wisdom for well-being are shared in both practices.

Regarding my holistic practice, it is part of who I am that I have a firm belief in accountability and empowerment as an essential component of the holistic process. Unfortunately, many people are not ready to “go there” and I can honor that (they would probably fare better to seek another practitioner). I cannot help but to address these issues as I feel we are here to help each other.  I feel that if I do not bring to awareness the issues of accountability as well as addressing issues of self empowerment, that I am performing a disservice to the client, myself, and society. If you desire empowerment and to help yourself, I betcha I can help. If I can’t, I will not waste your time, energy and money.

I offer my services because I know they help.  I know through personal experiences as well as through the experiences of others. I feel that I am offering a much needed service to our society. Families, communities and societies are as strong as the people who compose them. We need a more empowered and accountable society, and I am doing my part, first with myself, then with one person at a time.

If you resist reading what you disagree with, how will you ever acquire deeper insights into what you believe?  The things most worth reading are precisely those that challenge our convictions.  ~Author Unknown

The thing I have discovered regarding reading any kind of book is the intention in reading it - is it for self-help, pleasure, education, etc.? If it is for self-help, don't lose my discernment, for goodness sakes! The credibility (or in the case of channels - the incredibility) of the author are not the deciding factor in whether the information is relative to me...I am the deciding factor. That's the hard part. How does one know? Well, if the information is uncomfortable it could be for a variety of reasons. It could be that the reading may be addressing an issue (perhaps subconscious) that has made a person uncomfortable most of their life. It could also be the information is not for them. So much for a straight answer! But that is pretty much how life is at times. Sometimes you have to have the courage to explore things that are unfamiliar which makes anyone uncomfortable, but in those instances, always, always keep your common sense. Common sense and intuition will always guide us. We may end up in experiences that may not have been our wisest choice but sometimes those choices are our best lessons and we learn the most about ourselves (and others). We probably would not have learned the wisdom any other way if we did not go through that life experience.
A guide that I use for my book reading is whether or not the information is helpful as well as applicable to my life. Some information that I read sounds great in theory, but not really applicable to every day reality.
Another reason I read a lot is that I like to read controversial and off-the-wall books at times. I like challenging my beliefs. Ever since my divorce in 1989 where everything I was taught in life was challenged and blown to bits, I've been challenging my beliefs instead of having life do it for me. The multitude of book readings I've done have allowed me to contemplate how and why I developed the beliefs I have and why other people believe as they do. I find it fascinating and it tremendously expands my awareness of myself and others....and of life!  
Additionally, with books, I can go at my own pace and in my own space to comtemplate issues that demand solitude. Now, that's a gift!
You'll find some of these books I've read in the books and archived book section of this web site. More books I can recommend to you by email, depending upon your subjet.

I just got done riding my bike. It's been months! (Mainly because I wimp out when my hands and feet get cold). I absolutely love the simple pleasure of riding my bike!....sometimes with my music and sometimes with the music of nature. I can't really describe the sense of well-being, but it is there. All in a relatively cheap form of replenishment.
Other cheap forms of replenishment..
music....any and all kinds of music depending on the mood.
nice, hot bath....especially when I'm cold. Add a couple of drops of essential oils and poof!, instant spa.
nice glass of organic red wine...sometimes to sip in the bath tub :).
sharing and caring with those I love. I gotta have the emotional and mental depth in my relationships. That's true sharing.
Breathing...deep and slow. The essence of life. It is what brings life into our body at birth and leaves at death.
Energy treatments....something you have to experience for yourself to know if it is for you. But in all honestly, everyone, in some form or another, has experienced an energy treatment. It could have been a simple as a hug (although much shorter in duration than an energy session). Smiles, kind words, a simple touch all are forms of energy exchange that share the same basis of energy treatment.....a form of energy that most often given with the intent to enhance your well-being.

This poem was sent to me from a friend. I can't help but think of the power of words, especially when they are sent from the heart. (I'll have to write more about that later!) Thank you again to all of my friends and family for their soothing heart felt words.

Remember Me
“Remember me always, but do not grieve for me too

long. I have tried always to comfort you in times of

sorrow, and have made every effort to add joy to your

life. I never wanted to cause you pain.



Peace for me is certain now, and I suspect I will have

eternal sleep in the Earth I do so well.



Please, after your period of grieving for me, make room

in your heart for another. You are the kind of human

being that should always have a friend like me to love.

Your kind and gentle heart should not be wasted on my

memory for too long. Give your love to another. I know

your new friend will never take my place, because we

had something very special.



It may not be quite the same, but a new devoted and

loving companion will in time, become special in their

own way.



You loved me very much and I love you. My spirit will

always be with you, and no matter how deep my sleep,

my grateful heart will always remember you.”



-Author unknown-


 

My Love, My Heart-

I just have to share a few words with you about our beloved Lena-

She came into the world with one primary purpose; to teach you about the value of unconditional love. In that respect, her life was well given and well spent. You have told me about the things you gained and learned from her. We, as self-proclaimed "owners" of our planet, are all too often guilty of thinking that we are the primary purpose of all existence; you and I both know that this is not the case at all. The four-legs  in our world have much to teach us, and we are, at best, difficult pupils. In ancient times, people spoke of when we could converse freely with our 'relatives'; the four-legged, the winged people, the standing people(trees) and the stone people. As we humans became more 'civilized', we have nearly lost the ability to communicate with our relations. Of all other beings, the dogs have made the greatest attempt to keep that communication flowing.

Lena is (NOT was) a superlative spirit; she gave (and gives still today) to you solace when you had (or do not think that you have)no other resource; she exhibited (and exhibits) courage and resourcefulness when you could not (or cannot) do so on your own behalf; she offered and gave (and continues to do so) to you an absolute, resolute expression of love when you were just beginning to understand the concept of love itself.

Lena has not died; in the words of the poet, she has merely "cast off this mortal coil". Animals do not view death as we have been taught to believe. Physical death is not an end, but a transformation. The mere stoppage of a physical vessel cannot in any way impact the incredible force of the personality that once inhabited that vessel; the spirit, the individual, that immeasurable quantity that makes all of us(people, animals, plants, trees, stars, rocks, the Earth herself) "who we are" still remains, and remains as a viable force in the universe. "Mitak-e-oyasin", the Lakota phrase meaning "We are all related" or "All my relations", speaks a special truth; You and I are no more closely related to one another than I am to a stone, or than you are to an isolated pocket of snow on a distant mountain-top. By the same token, we have, and are obligated to hold, a "brother-sister" relationship with those four-legs(and all of our other relations, you and I included) who come into our lives and reward us with the opportunity to share their wisdom and good sense.

Our beloved sister has not died; in a moment when you most miss her, just sit quietly and reach out to the real part of our existence; our connection to the wheel of life, where we can actually hear the stars singing in their trek around the universe, and the trees growing quietly while all around them changes, and the stones sitting more quietly still as eons pass; there you will find Lena's voice, just as clearly heard, as strong and as vibrant as when she was a pup!

I miss her, I miss her, I miss her!!!

But, in acknowledging that, I also acknowledge that I have not looked hard enough inside my soul for the clear evidence of her continued existence-if I truly quiet myself and listen, I can see her, hear her, feel and smell her; she still lives!, just not on this limited plane of existence. She has not died, but has been transformed; her voice and her message of unconditional love still resonates and can still be felt, if we just take the time to listen...

I am fortunate to have known her, and through her, to know you! Without Lena, we might not ever have come together, and would have likely parted ways before now; without our Missy Wissy, you and I might not now exist as a couple. As only she could, she helped to join you and I together; I learned from her about your potential to love and your need for trusting behavior, and I think that you learned from her something about learning to love and to trust.

I am a better person for having known our Lena, and do not disparage her transition to what is undoubtedly a much more satisfying existence; I truly hope to share my universe with her again...

I love my Lena, and I love you!!!

Lena, my beloved corgi for 12 years passed away in her sleep. Thank God I was able to be with her! My "Missy Wissy", as we often lovingly called her, taught me about love. She taught me how to love naturally, from the heart.
The thing with animals is that they give, over and over again, unconditional love. We humans, tend to totally screw up most of our relationships. We, sometimes consciously as well as unconsciously, tend to be anything but loving.
With animals it is easy to be loving. In fact, I find it quite safe to love them as unconditionally that they love me. That is what my beloved corgi came here to try to teach me....love. And I learned.
Lena was such a huge blessing to me that every day I could give love without feeling the need to protect myself. Receiving the love from her was simply by being in her presence. That is what I miss tremendously, her presence. Yes, I do still feel the love but it isn't as simple anymore and going over and giving an ear rub.
Lena made me a better person by being in my life. Some people thought I had too much of an emotional involvement with my dog. I totally disagree. I enjoy loving. It is a natural thing to love and you cannot help but be emotionally involved if you love. Yes, I did spoil her, but she was also my constant and only companion for many years. Part of the enjoyment of love, is spoiling your companion. I do now have an incredible, loving partner for the past several years, but Lena was my constant companion for the past 12 years. Thomas has some catching up to do!

Had a reading today with my psychic, Cindy. Although it is called a reading, to me, it feels like I'm talking to an old friend. Cindy is not your stereotypical psychic. She does not tell me what to do or think, she simply offers me an unbiased, wholistic perspective of what is going on in the whole of my life. She has helped me through many of my life's challenges. With her wisdom, she has enpowered me with insight to make more positive choices for my life and has brought an understanding and wisdom to me that I have not been able to find anywhere else. She's better than a counselor because she can truly see my life from the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels. Sound incredible? It would have sounded incredible to me too 25 years ago. But ironically, when I was going through the worst time of my life, it was my first psychic reading that I took on a whim which brought a sense of relief, confirmation and a light at the end of the tunnel for me when I was in despair of going through a divorce. Nothing or no one else could give that to me at that time in my life. Now I know some people think psychics are crooks, evil or crazy, and perhaps, some may be; but, my experiences have been positive, enpowering, fun and enlightening. I do not use my readings as a crutch for my life decisions. I use them to offer clarification and/or confirmation. We all need "a little help from our friends" in life. I am truly thankful and blessed to have Cindy in mine. She has helped me and others. If you would like her number, email me and I'll give it to you. CIndy speaks the truth. Anyone have psychic readings/experiences they would like to share?