Category Archives: My Enchanted Life

Glimmers of Joy and Bliss

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What are glimmers?

Glimmers are small moments that spark joy or peace, which can help cue our nervous system to feel safe or calm. I’ve become fascinated with finding, paying attention to, and appreciating these small joys.

We all know what triggers are…those sensory reminders that cause painful memories or certain symptoms to resurface. If you experienced a traumatic event, you most likely remember certain sounds, smells, or sights related to that experience. but few people know about their opposite: glimmers.

Experts say this mindset shift can make a positive impact on our mental health. The term was first coined by Deb Dana, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in complex trauma.

In her 2018 book, The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy, “glimmers” refers to small moments when our biology is in a place of connection or regulation, which cues our nervous system to feel safe or calm.

This isn’t about big, expansive experiences of joy or safety or connection. These are micro moments that begin to shape our system in very gentle ways.

🌟 Being in nature
🌟 Wrapping our bodies in a big blanket
🌟 Interaction with our furbabies
🌟 Gardening
🌟 Freshly baked bread
🌟 Sharing a smile with a stranger
🌟 Hearing your favorite song

Here are just a few of my small and simple joys:

🌠 The sound of two little voices calling “Grandmagrandmagrandma!”
🌠 Hearing a hawk or coyote
🌠 Finding a hawk or owl feather
🌠 My crow family
🌠 Noticing a beautiful flower or moon or sunset or sunrise
🌠 Smelling the ocean or coffee brewing first thing in the morning
🌠 My garden
🌠 Butterflies
🌠 Wind through the trees
🌠 Of course seashells, rocks, and beach glass!

What are your glimmers?

Departure From The Norm

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This post is a departure from what I usually write about because I just spent a few minutes gazing at this mindblowing optical illusion and I was totally freaked out, so I need to ask…

Does this work for everybody? The brain is a wondrous thing…

Schroeder stairs is an optical illusion, a two-dimensional drawing which may be perceived either as a drawing of a staircase leading from left to right downwards or the same staircase only turned upside down, a classical example of perspective reversal in psychology of perception. It’s named after the German natural scientist, Heinrich G. F. Schröder, who published it in 1858.

And One Day

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And, one day
We shall look back and see
It was always those little moments
That mattered the most
Those little fleeting moments
Of innocence
Of happiness
Of laughter and dance.

A little poem written by Athey Thompson

Lion’s Gate Portal Opening. Get Ready! 8/8/23

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I wrote this a couple years ago, but it still seems to have value, so I'm reposting with today's date...

I find value in curating information and education from a variety of people and sources–I’m not a disciple of one singular way of thinking; I believe there’s merit in many beliefs and perspectives. The following from Matt Kahn piqued my interest:

‘In celebration of the Lion’s Gate Portal on August 8th, please read or repeat the following activation:

“I call forth the energetic anchoring, wisdom and support of my spirit guides, Ascended Masters, Archangels, the enlightened elders of my ancestral lineage, my beloved relatives on the Other Side, and my spirit animals to hold immaculate space in each of the four sacred corners as I enter the Lion’s Gate Portal Activation.In accordance with the Akashic Records, I allow the Lion’s Gate to be activated, awakened, and opened as I enter through this portal into a parallel timeline of my next highest self. In stepping through this portal, may all healings I am ready to receive be completed, may all activations and crystalline DNA I am ready to embody be activated, and may all wisdom, life direction, and inspirations in serving the glory of a life purpose I don’t have to figure out ahead of time be realized, received, and revealed. In accordance with the Akashic Records, I allow all gifts of healing, activation, awakening, and transformation to be actualized into present moment time and anchored as my new zero point field, allowing this brand new reality that I welcome to be accepted by the subconscious mind and encoded into cellular memory as my new abiding state of reality.I accept this activation and each gift my words declare my readiness to receive that now integrates into the fabric of time at exactly the pace that serves my highest greatest good. I accept that each aspect of this Lion’s Gate Portal equally serves in the tipping point of humanity’s ascension, as I offer every person the exact amount of connection or space to work out the complexities and vulnerabilities of their journey. If and when, during this Lion’s Gate portal, or any time hereafter, I witness humanity purging emotional density while identifying with its individual or collective shadow, I can support the transmutation of the old dissolving paradigm by anchoring the light of my new reality as a space holder of Earth’s Ascension. As I utilize the sacred invitation and power of the Lion’s Gate Portal to step through interdimensional hyperspace and into a new parallel timeline of my next highest self in form, may I offer compassion, mercy, and kindness, whether up-close or at a distance, to anyone identifying with the very shadow being purged. May I witness the pain they have buried, as a chance to help bring their consciousness back into full awareness. I offer this awareness as a gift of loving service with no attachment to outcome for anyone or any situation in view.If and when the anchoring of light feels overwhelming, it merely acts as a sign reminding of the perfect moments to enact self-care. Knowing, from the depths of my soul’s wisdom, each choice to care for myself sends waves of consciousness throughout the Quantum Field to help others in supporting their own needs instead of judging themselves or fighting with others. In the name of bringing abiding peace to Earth, no matter how turbulent the waves of change ebb and flow, I accept the Lion’s Gate Portal Activation that completes the Soul Contracts and cuts the chords to all I am ready to move beyond — with the utmost gratitude to every circumstance, person, or outcome that has served my evolution.Thank you Akashic Records for making the Lion’s Gate Portal Activation complete. Thank you spirit guides, Ascended Masters, Archangels, the enlightened elders of my ancestral lineage, my beloved relatives on the Other Side, and my spirit animals for holding immaculate space in each of the four sacred corners and continuing to make your presence known as the light I shine, the breath I breathe, the wisdom I receive, the guidance I follow, and the truth I speak that is always anchored in the vibration of peace, unity, abundance, wholeness, and love.I hereby accept the completion of the Lion’s Gate Portal and allow all integrations to occur as swiftly, miraculously, and gently as it has always been meant to be. May all be blessed by the Lion’s Gate portal, no matter how any person or group interprets the incoming energies and healings entering our Earth. And so it is.”

All For Love,
Matt Kahn

PS — Please enjoy this potent activation as often as desired, especially on Sunday when the energies reach a peak capacity.

Meine Wanderungen (My Wandering in Germany)

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Before there were the Angels 2.0, there was the brilliant original version. As I’ve often said, I wasn’t a helicopter mom, I was a drone mom, hovering ever so near…

During his junior year at university, my son signed up for a three-month program in Germany to perfect his language skills.

We discussed it and agreed the better idea would be to take the full year abroad to completely immerse himself in the language and culture. (And that’s totally NOT what a drone mom would do, by the way…)

He stayed in a dorm and went to the UCSD program partner at University of Goettingen.

I visited him for about a week in February of that year. We spent a lot of time walking and and took a couple train rides to the Harz region, including Goslar, a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany,  known for its medieval old town and half-timbered houses. We took the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen, Germany’s famous narrow-gauge steam railway. (That’s another story.)

I brought back some of what that area is known for, a bewitching elixer called Harzgeist. It’s similar to Jagermeister, but more herby and spicy and incredibly delicious. I wish I had some now!

One day, my son said it would be fun to take a hike to visit a nearby castle. He assured me that it was about four hours round-trip, and I believed him because we could see the castle off in the distance.

Somehow we ended up walking through what looked to be a dense forest of mature pine trees. Were we lost? I’m still not sure. When we finally found our way back to the road, I looked up and saw, off in the distance, a sky full of ominous looking clouds.

“Hey, those look like snow clouds to me. How far are we from the castle?”

I asked the question because we had been walking non stop for a couple hours and we seemed to be no closer to the castle then when we first started out.

“It’s not far, let’s keep going.”

“Are you sure?”

With a sense of unease and foreboding, I had no choice but to follow his lead. Not only did I not know where I was, I couldn’t speak German at all, and my son was fluent.

A few minutes later, I insisted we stop and eat the lunch I had packed. I spotted a bench and we sat down.

I looked up and said, “I told you so” as the first giant snowflakes came down. It didn’t take long before the wind picked up and the fluffy snowflakes turned from a gentle dusting to a full on, blinding blizzard.

In just a few minutes, we were covered in snow. The bench was covered in snow, inches of the white stuff. I refused to walk any further to this non-existent mirage of a castle, and we headed back to Goettingen. We could barely see the road and I hesitatingly trusted my son that he knew where we were going.

I took a picture of us so we’d never forget, and every once in a while I’ll remind him of the time he should have listened to me when I told him there was an approaching storm.

By the way, that castle (can’t remember the name) was actually more than TWENTY MILES away, and there’s no way in the world we could have day hiked there. Later, my son laughingly told me he biked there and it was awesome…uh, thanks a LOT, Angel Boy!

the little moments

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I captured the final glimpse of the sunset with my son still out there surfing. Can life get any better? I think not. #grateful

And, one day
We shall look back and see
It was always those little moments
That mattered the most

(A little poem written by Athey Thompson)

Alpenglow

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If we’re lucky enough to see it, alpenglow is the rosy light of the setting or rising sun on high mountains.

I don’t know how in the world my son was able to take this creative photo of alpenglow on the Olympic Mountains in Washington state, but it’s one of my favorite pics of his from a couple years ago.

Since we all seem to be stuck in a neverending heat wave, I thought this photo might help to cool us off; to evoke memories of crisp, snowy days.

How do YOU stay cool?

August is Full of Full Moons

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A tale of two moons.

There’s a ball of light
close to the sea
on a calm clear night
the waves move free
what comes to mind
is a lovely dream
there’s joy to find
in this timeless scene… Richie Cho

There are two full moons in August!

The Sturgeon Moon is August 1 and the second full super moon, also called a Blue Moon — will be August 30.

A Blue Moon is not actually blue but referred to as a second full moon in a calendar month, an occurrence that happens every two to three years.

This full moon is associated with the goddess Hecate, who is connected with the elements of the moon; waxing and waning, cycles, and transformation. It’s a time to contemplate our inner transformation and to embrace the power of the moon.

The second full moon presents a time to practice gratitude for what you have, where you’ve come from, and the nature all around you.

I hope we have clear skies so I can see at least one of these beauties!

Unearthed Primitive Artifact Or…

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Before I even begin my strange tale, I want to be sensitive to negative colloquialisms such as “‘Burying the hatchet’.

The use of this term trivializes the ancient peace-making ceremony in which two fighting nations symbolically buried or cached their weapons of war.

Offensive language like this is a result of centuries of violence and continues to perpetuate stereotypes that have real-life impacts on Native communities.

Indigenous Peoples and their cultural traditions are real and deserve respect. They are not historical artifacts, caricatures, or mascots. (radicalcopyeditor.com)

But I don’t know how else to describe what I just found in my garden…an actual buried hatchet.

Look at it!

It’s a joke from the Universe, right?

I have no idea how long it’s been there or how it became buried near a path that leads to some steps to the second level.

I can’t even figure out how, after all this time, it became UNburied enough for me to notice that bright blue handle.

So with deepest respect, I brushed away the dirt around the buried hatchet.

I’m not sure what to do next. Dig it up? Leave it there? Anyone care to hazard a guess about what it means?

Almost Everything But a Washcloth Full of Holes

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I’m known as the “fixer” because I have a certain amount of success in gluing together broken bits of china, repairing toys, and mending torn clothing…just call me the all around problem solver.

The original Angel Boy recently came to me with a few hand sewing tasks; a ripped seam in his windbreaker, tighten the upper arms of his gardening sleeves where the elastic stretched out so they won’t fall down, (which is super annoying), and sew or iron patches on AB2’s jeans, where he must slide on one knee A LOT,

After I completed my work under the watchful eye of my faithful sidekick, Angel Girl, she rummaged around in her room for something for me to repair (she doesn’t like to be left out of anything) and ran back with a dress that had short-ish butterfly sleeves that didn’t meet her high fashion standards.

“I don’t like this part, Grandma, so you can fix it.”

I took a look at it and figured it wouldn’t be a too difficult job to remove the flutter sleeves and resew the seams, which I did.

It made her very happy.

Later, while mom was giving her a bath, I could hear them chatting about her day. All of a sudden, she said, “I’ve got to give this to Grandma.”

She jumped out of the tub and came running into my room dripping wet, holding a raggedy torn and tattered washcloth full of holes.

“Here you go, Grandma, fix this.”

It must have been washed dozens of times and there really wasn’t any life left and sadly, that worn out fabric was far beyond my capabilities to magically repair, but I love the faith and confidence that angel has in me as the “fixer”, the one she can count on to make things right and restore everything back to the way they should be.

Yup, I’m a fixer, but not always.