Opening any group activity, especially in integrative practices like wellness workshops, sets the tone for what follows. The way we begin matters deeply. It shapes how participants engage, how safe they feel, and how much they gain from the experience. One common method is the Welcome Circle—a space designed to foster connection, set expectations, and prepare everyone mentally for the session ahead. But what happens when this opening ritual becomes unbalanced? When one person

A July windstorm brought August opportunities. There were tornadoes in New York early this summer, and one strong downdraft brought a large limb down from a big tree in a neighboring yard. A branch about 3-4 inches in diameter pierced through the roof of my beloved DollHouse shed. This carnage brought with it opportunities. In my version of the hero's journey, I faced an unexpected challenge that tested my resourcefulness and creativity. Here’s how my adventure unfolded: 1. T

Last week my Facebook profile was tken down because an instagram user I've never heard of violated community standards??? Overcoming the loss of Facebook’s digital network to forge deeper, intentional face-to-face connections and community growth. There is no way to contact a human being, and my appeal seems to be submitted to nothing. I requested a download of my profile, but all that I got are profile photos - 15 years of photo albums, groups and events, messages.... and ac

This year is commonly being thrown under the bus as one of the worst in history. No doubt many families agree that this past year has shown them new meanings of loss and devastation that they never would have imagined. Even so, many of us do have a handful of blessings, and learning experiences to be grateful for in spite of the pantheon of political, pandemic, and other stressors we’ve been through in the past 12 months. For example, even though it has been possible to vide

We are all haunted on one level or another by our past and future fears. Parts of ourselves that made mistakes, were harmed by others, things we want to move beyond, and can't quite seem to ever fully escape, fears of repeating the same patterns... Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Gustav Jung, called this dark part of ourselves "shadow" because it always follows, no matter how hard we try to supress or move beyond our discomfort. Through a variety of education and life experience, I

https://www.summitlighthouse.org/archangel-michael-faith/ One of my various teachers who I worked with in creating my video series, and with whom I've been working in groups which meet in his home, uses a tracking metaphor to make meaning of our lives. I've been working with him for about 18 month now, and it's always interesting to see what comes up. I don't want to go into too much detail of what happened medically, behaviorally, familialpolitically, etc., but the archetype

Have you heard that "Carnism is the invisible belief system, or ideology, that conditions people to eat certain animals. Carnism is essentially the opposite of veganism, as “carn” means “flesh” or “of the flesh” and “ism” refers to a belief system."? In her argument, Dr. Melanie Joy talks about which animals we believe are sacred or profane - we eat certain animals, and judge other cultures for eating animals we don't, and it's a belief system we all have accepted (in our na

Thank you to the Finger Lakes Health Fair for putting on an AMAZING event! Please remember to check out my Youtube for excerpts from the event in the spring season of the video series. Since the Yoga Festival I had hoped to attend in August was cancelled, the Health Fair was my first event setting up a tent and performing sample reiki on my own. This was a completely different experience than being a volunteer in the Grassroots Healing Arts area. My video of that will be on I

What's been going on for Teaching Ithaca Wellness LLC over the summer is truly amazing! I hope to accomplish amazing things with Toga Yoga and the College Cuddle over the next few weeks as well, and I am looking forward to the Finger Lakes Health Fair later in September. I had an amazing time in the Hudson valley completing the in-person Foundations of Facilitation, I held 2.5 Cuddle Parties in June, and my 3rd review party a week ago today, and I'm looking forward to officia

If you've ever really read the myth of Pandora's box, then you may know that "hope" is the only demon that was never vanquished. When I completed the Radiance Course at Yoga Farm, I vaguely recall receiving a stone marked "hope," but I can't find it or recall what has become of it. I felt deja vu when I also received "hope" on the completion stone for Foundations of Facilitation I recently attended through Cuddle Party facilitation training. Tracking that, I have a new opport

Have you ever known someone who has a counter argument for everything, a road block for every solution you put forth? That's the way I feel about my best friend sometimes. She got me into yoga almost 20 years ago, she's knowledgeable about nutrition, I admire her amazing art projects, and all the many reasons that all these years she remains my bestie, but in the face of crisis it becomes difficult to remember to love unconditionally. It's easy to love the sunshine and good t

I just completed the in-person portion of my Cuddle Party facilitator training, and I'm excited for the various events coming over the next couple of months: I'll be tabling at the Community Awareness Resource Engagement Service (CARES) area talking about affirmative consent, assisting with costuming for the Happiness Parade, and also collecting footage for my video project at Grassroots July 19th -22. Next, I intend to begin filming one wellness expert per week beginning th

Surely your results will vary - the following is a story about my personal experience today. I've been working at setting up this business since the beginning of the year, but I'm not really fully functioning as in consistent revenues yet. I am highly organized, and I could even say that I embody a strong will and dedication to completing projects, but without clear deadlines and other accountability like a "real job" it can be difficult to feel as though things are being acc

Sometimes our lives get us overwhelmed, and there can be a lot of factors that contribute to feelings of ennui or generally unidentifiable disgruntlement. Sometimes we can become deeply attached to and even traumatized by the stories we tell ourselves about what's going on in our lives. To be listened allows one to hear the story they are believing in a different way than it might sound in the mind the way you might have told it to yourself. Some people have a tendency to pe

Something tragic for me turned into something completely beautiful for the world. About a year ago today I had to put my cat down after spending thousands of dollars on medical bills. The issue of the day at the time was fear and confusion over the dismantling of the Affordable Care Act, and the prospect of millions of American people losing out on health care entirely. Immediately after putting my beloved BoBo kitty down, I attended an annual Dances of Universal Peace Dance

Tomorrow evening, June 19th, 2018 at 7:30PM, the one night only event showing of Teaching Ithaca Wellness - the Movie will take place at our local community theater, Cinemapolis. Please buy a ticket at https://cinemapolis.org/event/pegasys-host-presents-documentary/. Following the ~80 minute feature, I will be available in the theater to answer questions about the film and the wellness experts featured as well as to distribute souvenir BPA free water bottles and sign up new t