Mandala Monday Holiday Hiatus

Happy Monday, friends! Mandala Monday is going on hiatus for the holidays. I will be back with a fresh, new mandala for you once 2008 begins ... so please circle your calendar for Monday, January 7, 2008. And if you get a hankering for a mandala to color between now and then, you should go here to download any of the 26 available for FREE!

Wishing you not only happy coloring, but a Happy New Year, too!

And if you care to leave a comment below, please let me know if and how you have been enjoying Mandala Mondays this year. I would certainly love to hear from you!

Mandala Monday: Week 26

Welcome to the new visitors who found this site via the holiday bazaar at Cincinnati Yoga School last Saturday! Happy coloring!

Mandala Monday: Week 25

This week's mandala is ready to download here. Happy coloring!

Has Anyone Told You?

http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/ (via Karen Knowler).

Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter, and many blessings!

Mandala Monday: Week 24

For your coloring pleasure, ready to download here.

Mark Your Calendar

I am participating in the Cincinnati Yoga School (6125 Ridge Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45213) Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, December 1, from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

I hope to see you there!

Mandala Monday: Week 23

This week's mandala is posted here for download. Happy coloring!

Next Noon with the Moon

As noted here, the next Noon with the Moon labyrinth walk is this Saturday, November 10. I hope to see you there!

Mandala Monday: Week 22

Hmm, Mandala Monday on Tuesday this week? Sorry about that. I created the mandala on Monday, but woke up this morning with the realization that I never posted it. It is ready to download here.

Congratulations to Kris, who is the raffle winner for the second month in a row. Kris makes some absolutely beauty-full mandalas and she loves to send them to me for the Gallery. They are color-full treats for the eyes!

But, hey, don't let her have all of the fun ... you should send me yours, too! It doesn't matter if you color your mandalas with crayons, pencils, paint, or lipstick. Stay in the lines or, better yet, DON'T. Just scan or photograph your finished piece and e-mail it to me for the Gallery so that you have a chance when this month's raffle winner is drawn on December 1!

Mandala Monday: Week 21

This week's mandala is ready for you to download.

Also want to share this website with you for making your own kaleidoscope/mandala images. It's a lot of fun. Here is one that I made:



You can see more here. Have fun!

Ask Jakk

I've received a few questions recently. They may have been on your mind, too, so I would like to post them and their answers. Remember, questions are ALWAYS welcome!

Hey, where did the mandalas from previous weeks of Mandala Monday go? You only have the most current one posted!

I took them down to add headers with the week number and a link to this website. This will be helpful for a couple of reasons. First, if there is a favorite mandala that you like to color, you know exactly which one it is. Second, if you forward a mandala to someone else, they will know where you found it and can check this site for others to save and print. All twenty (20!!!!!!) weeks are now posted again and ready for you to download.

I'll be honest. I really didn't expect Mandala Monday to last beyond the summer. I didn't think that anyone would be interested. Boy, was I wrong! I'm thrilled that so many people are enjoying them so much. All I ask is that you remember that there is a Creative Commons License (which serves as the copyright) on these images. Please click on this link or at the bottom of the Mandala Monday page to learn more about what you can and can't do with these mandalas.

I'm curious ... what happened to the Reiki Tails posts? You were writing about your shelter visits weekly and then all of the sudden, you stopped.

Unfortunately, once my daughter started school at the end of August, shelter visits have become few and far between. She was my photographer, so any visits that I've made without her have also been without my camera. I am thrilled to report that the majority of the cats documented over the summer have been adopted, but I want to go back and confirm exactly which ones. I feel like the Reiki really made a difference and I look forward to getting back there on a weekly basis. It was every bit as good for me as it was for the cats.

Will you be having an open house this year?

In years past, I have hosted an open house in my home before the holidays. Unfortunately, it looks like I won't be having one this year. Yeah, I'm disappointed too. But remember that you can always set an appointment with me to see any of my creations in person with absolutely no obligation to buy. I know that I like to see and feel jewelry before I purchase it, so I am always happy when others want to try on a piece before making their decision. So please don't ever hesitate to contact me.

And keep those questions coming!

The Art of Living Happily Ever After

As you know, Jakk's Magic Beans Workshop is where I practice the art of living happily ever after. My mission is to creatively support and enhance well-being in ways that may seem like "magic beans" to some. The thing about magic beans is that you never know what can grow from them unless you give them a chance. Miracles and happy surprises often come in the most unexpected packages.

I look forward to expanding this blog to share a bit more about my personal journey and what goes into the creations and services that I offer through this site ... a view behind the scenes, if you will. This is me in the business of being me. I am grateful for the opportunity to share not only what I create and offer, but the why's behind them as well.

I would love to see this facet of the website grow to become a place for you to visit regularly for inspiration. I love sharing websites and resources that I discover through my on-line travels. But what I love best of all is introducing you to inspiring people who are embracing the art of living happily ever after.

That said, I would love for you to to meet Kris Carr. Tune in to TLC tonight at 8:00 p.m. to see her documentary, Crazy Sexy Cancer. I discovered Kris as I was researching the raw vegan lifestyle (a path that I have happily found myself upon and will talk about in more detail in due time). She is truly the epitomy of "empowerful." I watched an earlier presentation of this program and was so uplifted. She is a role model for all of us ... not just those with cancer.

Mandala Monday: Week 20

A fresh new mandala has been posted for you to download here.

Happy coloring!

Mandala Monday: Week 19

A fresh new mandala, hot out of the oven and ready for you to color ... download it here. Enjoy!

Mandala Monday: Week 18

Sorry ... running a bit late getting this week's mandala posted. Enjoy!

Mandala Monday: Week 17

This week's mandala is ready for you to download here.

Happy coloring!

The Full Moon is Coming!

So you know what that means ...

Our next Noon with the Moon walk is on Thursday, September 27, for this full moon in Aries.

Hope to see you there!

Mandala Monday: Week 16

The PDF of this week's mandala is ready to download here.

Happy coloring!

Mandala Monday: Week 15

This week's mandala is (finally) posted. You can download the PDF here.

As always, happy coloring!

Mandala Monday: Week 14

This week's mandala is posted for download here.

This one ought to keep you busy for awhile. *wink* I think I got a bit carried away with the design. But I love how it turned out and I can't wait to see how you color it. Please don't forget to submit it for the September contest!

Come Walk with Me

Just a reminder that the next Noon with the Moon labyrinth walk at the Spiritual Center at Milford is scheduled for this Tuesday, September 11th, in celebration/contemplation of the Virgo new moon (and partial solar eclipse) which arrives at 8:44 a.m.

This photo was taken at the the last Noon with the Moon walk for the full moon on August 28. As we finished our walk, we found this monarch exercising its wings in the tall grasses beside the labyrinth, having recently emerged from its chrysalis. Did you know that unlike "average" butterflies, which live for only one or two weeks, the monarch can live six months or more? As animal totems, butterflies symbolize joy, creativity and freedom.

Wonder what we'll see on Tuesday?

Mandala Mondays: Week 13

I came up with a simple design for this week's mandala. You can download the PDF here.

I'd like to congratulate Julie from Ohio as the Mandala Mondays raffle winner for the month of August. You can see her mandala in the Gallery.

As always, happy coloring ... and enjoy the rest of this holiday weekend!

Mandala Monday: Week 12

The PDF of this week's mandala is posted for download here.

We are in the home stretch toward the first of September, which means the deadline for submitting your colored mandala for the August earrings raffle is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, August 31.

As always, happy coloring!

Reminder: Noon with the Moon Walk on Tuesday, August 28

Noon with the Moon has its own page, but I thought I'd mention it here, too, just in case. You can sign up there to be reminded a couple of days before the next walk. I hope to see you on Tuesday! And, hopefully, it won't be quite as hot. Please contact me if you have questions or need directions.

Mandala Monday: Week 11

A fresh new mandala ... hot out of the oven for you to enjoy! Download PDF copy here.

As always, happy coloring!

E-Mailishness

It has been brought to my attention that people are receiving error messages that my e-mailbox is full. I've run a test and confirmed that sent messages ARE being received, but I also received the error message as well. The fine folks with Insider Hosting are checking into this problem. It should be remedied very soon.

UPDATE:
Problem solved! Thank you Insider Hosting!

Noon with the Moon

Please click on the link to sign up to be reminded via e-mail of the next Noon with the Moon walk at the New and Full moons.

I hope to see you on August 28th!

Reiki Tails for Visit on August 7, 2007

I'm sooooooooo late on this post. Had some problems getting the widget to work for me, but all is well now. We weren't able to visit this week due to work and school activity commitments, but hope to make it there for a visit early next week before my daughter's first day of school.

The great news from our visit last week was that both Toby and Velveteen were adopted. Toby arrived at the shelter early last winter. His family had to give him up due to a child's allergies. I always feel most sorry for new arrivals in those situations and happiest for them when they find a new home.

Let's see if I can remember what happened our our rounds.

We finally got to visit Room 1, which is usually being cleaned when we visit. Little Stardust was such a cutie. She isn't on the shelter website anymore, so no doubt she has been adopted. We saw Oscar grooming her. And even Diane played mama when Calhoun was trying to play-attack. Diane gave Calhoun a little swat that said, "We'll have none of that in here, young man." Sookie was just hanging around, watching it all.

In Room 2, both Juliette and Argentina came running up to us when we arrived. Very unusual. Maybe they've made a truce. Juliette let me pet her on the kitty condo. She is looking much better and Argentina is certainly being much more personable around us.

In the kitten room, we could have gobbled up the sugary sweetness of Abdul and Amaretta. They won't be there long, I'm sure.

In Room 4, Ava and Scrunchie approached us, but none of the cats seemed particularly interested in receiving much attention.

In Room 6, Sid was scratching at the door for us. And Gretel was very responsive to being petted. She liked sniffing my hair, for some reason. I wish that she didn't flinch before each stroke, but I guess it will take some time for her trust people. At least she is open to being touched. For many months, she wouldn't even let me make contact. Tiki did a lot of leg-rubbing, but wasn't interested in hopping in my lap. There was a sweet kitten in the room ... Wyoming. Kittens, kittens, everywhere!

There are new cats in Room 7. Kayla is a beautiful calico and Smoky is white and gray. This room was getting quite empty, so it is nice to see some new furry faces there to keep Sharley and Tulip company.

In Room 3, there were a couple of new cats too. Linley is a Tortie and Amblin is a black cat. I had to wake up Caroline to say hello and I'm afraid that I startled her when I did. After she realized it was me, she was very animated. I look forward to being able to put her in my lap one day, but taking baby steps for now.

Room 5 was being cleaned, so we didn't get to visit our friends there.

All in all, it appears that I didn't do much, if any, hands-on Reiki, other than through petting ... but, again, I don't have to make physical contact in order to offer it and have it be received. I feel bad missing a visit this week, but that will make next week's visit that much sweeter.

Mandala Monday: Week 10

Running a bit late on this week's mandala ... sorry for the delay.

You can download the PDF copy of this week's mandala here. Happy coloring!

Button for Mandala Mondays

Okay, friends, you asked for it ... you got it! A Mandala Mondays button for your website:


When I get some free time, I'll try to craft something a little niftier or find someone who can. (As with HTML, I am pretty clumsy in Photoshop and know just enough to get by.)

In the meantime, thank you for your interest in supporting and promoting my mandala mission! As always, happy coloring!

Mandala Monday: Week 9

Let me begin this week's Mandala Monday post with a virtual hug to all of my yoga friends, with whom I spent a wonderful weekend on retreat. Thank you, Julie, for planning this time of renewal for us. I feel like I took a week-long vacation in just 24 hours! And another big thank you to Julie's very special guest, Calesta Ana Harrison, author of the book, Earth Mother Yoga. Such an inspiration!

This week's mandala is available to download here. Please don't forget to submit your colored mandala (scanned or photographed) via e-mail ... or even by regular mail, if you prefer. See the contact page for more information. I look forward to entering you into the August raffle for a pair of Magic Beans earrings.

As always, happy coloring!

Mandala Mania is Contagious ... in a Good Way

I'd like congratulate Carla, the July winner of the Monday Mandalas raffle. You can view her lovely mandala here.

I would also like to share a lovely message that I received from my friend, Julie Lusk:

"Your mandalas made nice company on my plane ride - and the same goes for the young girl who was in my row (about 12 years old). We both had fun coloring and she asked me if I was an artist. I replied, "No, just someone who likes to color." By the time we were getting luggage her mom heard all about our coloring (her mom sat in another row) and they were all smiles. Your energy and good will radiates all over the place."

Ahhh, mission accomplished!

Speaking of energy and good will, you really should visit Julie's website ... it is positively brimming with helpful information and resources. I am so fortunate to be able to attend her yoga classes each week here in Cincinnati.

Reiki Tails for Visit on July 31, 2007

It was a beautiful day when we visited, which gave us the opportunity to spend some time outside with the cats.

In Room 7, my new favorite orange cat, Ozark, came running in from outside when we arrived. He has never done that before and his enthusiasm made us laugh. He wasn't interested in getting in my lap but enjoyed being petted for awhile before going back outside. Tulip stayed in her nest, but I'm glad to have a good picture of her. We still feel bad for taking her sister away from her, but hope that she will find her forever home soon. Or else we'll need to make room for a third cat at our house.

In Room 6, of course our friend Sid is always dependable with his happy greeting. I am so surprised that he has not been adopted, but I do realize that his age may be working against him. Gretel was our big surprise in this room. She typically will not even tolerate petting and we know not to expect any kind of acknowledgment from her when we arrive. This visit she came up to us to be petted. She winces with each stroke, but she stays. I'd call that progress. If she keeps warming up like this, I would expect her to be adopted in no time at all. There was a new arrival in this room, Figi, and it wanted nothing to do with anyone. It hissed at us just for opening the door. There seemed to be no love for its fellow felines either, so it might be awhile before we get to know Figi better.

Room 5 had Carmen and Spring jockeying for Reiki time. Carmen hopped up first. If I'm not mistaken, she received it last week. That may be the case for Spring, as well. They both seem to be very healthy and doing well. But when it comes to Reiki, I never question why anyone or anything needs it ... it's just my job to offer it. My daughter spent time with Meme. Georgie came in from outside and sat near us, probably soaking in all of the love, but he wasn't particularly interested in much petting. Just being close was enough for him this week.

None of the cats in Room 4 seemed particularly interested in our visit. Most of them were lounging in their enclosed area outside. We didn't stay there long.

In Room 3, Caroline was so happy to see us and just loved being petted. This is the same cat that surprised me last week. She is really coming around. Maybe she'll climb in my lap before long. If any cat at the shelter has (understandable) trust issues, it's little Caroline.

I don't know who looks worse in Room 2, Juliette or Argentina. Evidently, they are bullying each other or another cat is picking on them both. Juliette welcomes being petted, although she still won't get in my lap. Argentina is still wary of all contact, although warming up enough to greet us at the door. There are older kittens in this room now and I think they cause a lot of unwanted commotion for the older cats. Hopefully, there will be some peace in this room very soon.

I think we need to start with Room 1 next time. We usually start with Room 7 and by the time we work our way down to Room 1, it's getting cleaned and we can't get in to see those cats. At least that's how it is been the last two weeks.

The kitten room is still booming. I took a little video clip. I'm not sure how to post it, but if I figure out how, I will.

Mandala Monday: Week 8

This week's mandala has been posted and is ready for you to download and enjoy.

Don't forget ... the deadline for the July raffle for Jakk's Magic Beans Workshop earrings is tomorrow, July 31, at 11:59 p.m. Submit your colored Monday Mandala (from any week) via e-mail for posting to my Gallery and you are automatically entered to win!

As always, happy coloring!

07-0725: Micalated Quartz

I have wrapped many Rutilated Quartz crystals over the years, but this was my first Micalated Quartz. Where the Rutilated Quartz contains only Rutile, which looks like straw, Micalated Quartz contains Rutile and Mica. Very cool ... at least to a rock lover like me.

I tried my hand (literally) at extensive coiling with thin round sterling silver. Like anything new, it felt a bit awkward at first, until I got the hang (or hand) of it. Like anything else, it took some patience and a bit of finesse. Patience is truly a virtue when it comes to wire-wrapping. I never know what I'll end up with until it's finished.

Here are more details, in case you are interested.

Reiki Tails for Visit on July 24th

We had an abbreviated visit to the shelter yesterday because my daughter wasn't feeling very well. We started with Room 7, as usual, which is almost empty in comparison to the other rooms. Since Sebring went to her forever home, that left Toby, Tulip and Sharley. They moved Ozark in there for additional company. Toby was affectionate but a bit wound up, too, as displayed in the photo of him eating his bed. There were no Reiki-takers in Room 6, but our buddies Georgy and Sid were happy to see us. In Room 5, Spring jumped right into my lap for Reiki, but only stayed five minutes or so. Carmen, a long-time resident, has never paid any attention to me before this visit, but she hopped right into my lap like a pro. She seemed really happy to receive the energy. In Room 4, there were no takers for hands-on, but Kitty Frances loved being petted in her bed. I love this picture of her ... such a sweet, sweet face. In Room 3, Velveteen was happy to have some Reiki. It had been a couple of weeks. My daughter and I found Caroline hiding outside in a plastic house. I've got a big soft spot for Caroline ... she went through so much before arriving at the shelter a few years ago. Witnesses saw her and her kittens being thrown from a car! When the vet checked her, he discovered that she had been shot with BBs. After all that she has endured, I doubt that she will ever trust me enough to jump in my lap for hands-on Reiki. But after we coaxed her out of hiding, she let me pet her instead of running away from us. That's a very good sign. In Room 2, Bela Legosi wanted to be held. I was squatted down checking on Juliette and he jumped up in my arms. I got the hint. We didn't get to spend time in Room 1 this visit because it was being cleaned. The kitten room is still overflowing. The A-Kittens were purported to have some, um, gastrointestinal issues. I didn't handle them, but sent some Reiki from outside of the cage. For not feeling well, they sure were frolicky.

As far as recent adoptions go, Wren found a forever home since our last visit. I'm not surprised at all. Callie, Pixie and Itsu were still there, though. We thought they went to their new home when we last visited, but they're still on hold. It was nice to get to see them one more time.

Stay tuned until next week!

07-0724: Sunstone in Argentium

What's not to love about Sunstone ... especially at the peak of summer? What the heck is Argentium, you ask? It is an extremely tarnish-resistant Sterling Silver alloy containing more germanium than standard Sterling. I've purchased a little bit of it in several different wire gauges in order to see if it is "feels" any different than regular Sterling Silver. After using it for two pendants, I can say that, so far, I detect no difference in "wrap-ability" or appearance. I guess it is one of those things where time will tell.

I have always provided my customers with a small zip-top bag to store their pendants and earrings when they aren't being worn. This keeps their pieces bright and shiny, looking like new. But, goodness knows, I'm guilty of leaving my own jewelry pieces unprotected most of the time, because I can't be bothered with tracking down those wayward zip-top bags. Trust me, they don't tarnish overnight. But, when they do, they take on an antique patina that often compliments the design. In other words, I don't mind. But Argentium-wrapped creations will be a treat for those who, unlike me, DO mind the tarnish, but, like me, aren't always diligent about storing their pieces after they wear them.

Please visit here for more info on this particular pendant.

07-0723: Green Chert with Rhyolite Pebbles

I have challenged myself to wrap one pendant per day this week. Ambitious, indeed, with only 24 hours to each day and so many other priorities to fill them. But I have surely, sorely (and souly) missed spending time at my workbench. When I don't make even just a little bit of time for my creativity, I end up creating big trouble instead. *wink* So I have had to resort to doing the only thing that has ever really worked for me ... make a standing appointment ... be there or be square. It thrilled me to sit, once again, before the collection of stones and crystals awaiting adornment. The beads, the silver, the beautiful mess of it all, have left me feeling quite swoony. I can't wait to do it again tomorrow.

Here is more information regarding this beauty, in case you are smitten.

Mandala Monday: Week 7

This week's mandala is ready to download. I took a look at the mandala designs from previous weeks, now that the Mandala Mondays list has grown from just a few to a true collection. Some weeks I've been compelled to create a more intricate design while other weeks I obviously opted to keep things simple. A lot like life, eh? It's all good! I look forward to seeing how the mandala designs evolve in the future. And I look forward to seeing how YOU color them!

Remember, the deadline to submit your colored mandala for inclusion in the July raffle for Jakk's Magic Beans Workshop earrings is 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, July 31.

Happy coloring!

Reiki Tails

We had a very busy visit at the shelter this week! Three kitties (Callie, Pixie and Itsu) were adopted and going to their new home while we were there. And the beautiful Sebring, who shared a room with our Garrett and Tansy, was adopted as well but had yet to be picked up by her new owner ... which gave us an opportunity to say goodbye.

I've said it before. I'll say it again. Bittersweet. I'm just amazed at how many of the long-timers have been adopted recently. Some of these cats have been there for two, three, four years or more! Every cat that leaves for its forever home makes room for another cat awaiting one, so it's all good news. But I will also miss seeing the sweet faces of my old friends ... they will be missed.

Miss Pickle was feeling extremely friendly this visit, when usually she is shy or just plain disinterested. She was up for hands-on Reiki this time.

Poor Juliette appears to be taking a beating lately. I guess there is a bit of competition/intimidation going on. I'm not sure who is scratching her up, but I've notified the "authorities" and I'm sure they'll keep their eye on things. I hope she gets moved to a different room. She didn't want to hop down from her bed, but she was happy to be petted.

Wren was eager for hands-on Reiki. I thought that she was just a kitten, but she is a petite two year old. Lots of energy!

ZeeZee (who may be Benny, because I think we have the names in this room mixed up, but we'll just call him Mr. Moustachio)encroached on Wren's treatment, wanting Reiki too.

Scrunchie was open to being petted this visit, but on her terms.

Room 6 was busy, busy. Callie came up to say hello ... or goodbye. Such a beautiful, sweet calico girl with the biggest eyes. Pixie was eager for hands-on. Tiki wanted hands-on as well. And my big buddy, Sid, was eagerly waiting for us at the door.

Tulip (the sister of our cat, Tansy) was surprisingly outgoing when we stopped by, which is unusual for a hider like her. She is very shy and apprehensive about contact. This time she wanted to be petted. I hope this means that she will be adopted soon.

The kitten room was PACKED and there were other volunteers there, so I wasn't able to offer Reiki like I would have wanted, but all of the litters are doing great.

Until next week's report, enjoy the pictures.

Mandala Monday: Week 6

This week's mandala has been posted here for you to download. As always, happy coloring!

Reiki Tails: Sid Settles In and the A-Kittens, Too

There weren't many takers for Reiki today ... at least not hands-on. The only one was my big buddy, Sid, in Room 2. He was enthusiastically waiting for me at the door. When it was time for me to leave (I have to cover 7 cat rooms and a kitten room in less than 2 hours), Sid did not want to budge. I felt terrible having to put him down, but I think he would have stayed in my lap, soaking up the Reiki, for the rest of the day.

Sid is a sweet and gentle 9 year old boy who has been at the shelter a month or two, after being rescued from underneath someone's deck. Sid is declawed so he must have been an indoor pet at some point. I hope he finds another home soon.

Gretel is a very shy girl who has been at the shelter for a long time. She is very wary of hands-on contact ... even the most gentle and cautious petting. I would be extremely surprised (but delighted) if she ever jumps in my lap for Reiki. While I was giving Reiki to Sid, I think that she felt it from across the room. She sat up in her bed facing us and sat that way for 10 minutes, seemingly sound asleep. Gretel, even at only 2 years old, will have a more difficult time finding a home than Sid just because of her tentative nature. But maybe regular Reiki, even sent distantly, will help to heal her fears.

The A-kittens ... Arlo, Aquarius, Aloha, and Amour ... what can I say other than oh my goodness, the sheer cuteness! They had arrived at the shelter that morning and appeared to be physically attached to one another. Rather than cause distress by trying to handle them individually, I decided to sit outside of their cage and direct Reiki to them. They immediately feel fast asleep. Just too sweet for words.

Well, surprise of all surprises, Freckles, who I posted about on June 28, was adopted. I have started keeping track of which cat receives hands-on Reiki and when they get adopted, because it sure seems to me like a lot of them, even the long-timers who have been there for years, find homes shortly after a treatment. Maybe it is just a coincidence, but I really don't think so. All the more inspiration to make sure I schedule at least one visit each week!

In case you live in the Greater Cincinnati area and are interested in checking out all of the animals available for adoption, please see the link to the League for Animal Welfare in my sidebar. I can't recommend this fine organization enough.

Mandala Monday: Week 5

Here is your mandala to color this week. Please don't forget about the monthly drawing for your chance to win a pair of Jakk's Magic Beans Workshop earrings. Downloadable mandalas and details regarding the drawing are available here.

As always, happy coloring!

Reiki Tails

Unfortunately, the holiday has kept us from visiting the shelter this week, but I did receive some great (although bittersweet) news via the volunteer newsletter. Our old friend, Tangelo, was adopted. You can see his photo in the slide show from last week's Reiki Tails post. Tangelo was a Hurricane Katrina rescue, along our big and beloved orange fella, Garrett. They arrived at the shelter in October 2005, about a year before we started volunteering there. My family and I adopted Garrett (and his kitty girlfriend, Tansy) in January of this year. Tangelo and Garrett could be twins. For months, I've felt sad that Tangelo still waited for a forever home while Garrett had settled in with us. So I am happy to know that Tangelo has finally been adopted, but a bit misty knowing that we won't ever see him again.

That is really the only hard part of volunteering at the shelter. I get attached. Try as I may, I just can't help it. As much as we want them to be adopted as soon as possible, we really do look forward to our time with them each week. This is a WONDERFUL shelter and, believe me, these cats could not ask for a nicer place to await adoption. But it's not a home ... it's not the same as having a family to love and live with.

So when my daughter and I arrive to discover that one of our best feline friends has been adopted, we may feel sad at first, but promptly remind each other that it is really good news and a big part of our "job" there. We try to take comfort in the new friends to be made. And there will always be enough room, in our hearts and our laps, for old friends AND the newest arrivals.

Congratulations also go out to Bright, from the photos last week, as he was adopted since our last visit as well. Such a sweet boy ... I'm not the least bit surprised. He preferred receiving Reiki from his perch in the window above my head, where the sun could warm him as well. I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to offer Reiki to him and I certainly wish him well in his new home.

Mandala Monday: Week 4

First, I would like to congratulate Alison J. from PA on being the June 2007 (and first EVER) winner of the Jakk's Magic Beans Workshop Mandala Mondays Monthly Drawing. Please check out the mandalas colored by Alison and her daughter in the JMBW Gallery.

Submissions for the July 2007 drawing are due via e-mail by midnight Tuesday, July 31, 2007. Feel free to color and submit the current mandala or any mandala posted from previous weeks.

If you have any questions, please let me know. And, as always, happy coloring!

Reiki Tails

As you can tell from the slide show above, my daughter and I had a busy visit to the shelter this week. Freckles was my big orange surprise. He's been there for a long time and usually doesn't pay much attention when we visit. This time was different. He hopped right up in my lap and laid down facing away from me, like he wanted me to give Reiki to his hips. Reiki goes where it is needed, regardless of where I put my hands, but I did find it interesting that he kind of pointed the way in his own way. Freckles is an older gent of about 10 years, so maybe he is having some arthritis issues. I'm not in any position to try to make a diagnosis, but had I sensed that anything serious was going on (which I didn't), I would have mentioned something to the staff so that they could contact the vet. But Freckles seemed content to have hands-on Reiki, which many cats find a bit too intense, so something must have needed healing. After awhile, he hopped off of my lap and into his kitty condo to take a nap. Enough was enough. I always let the animal decide when the treatment is over, although some would likely sit there forever. Afterward, most want a long drink of water or a long nap.

I was asking my daughter this week if she thought that she might like to learn Reiki some day. She said, "No, it's your thing, Mom." Little does she know that she is already sending love and healing to the animals in her own unique way. I can tell by the way that they respond to her. Pictures really are worth a thousand words.

We found out that our new feline friend from last week, Rosalina, was adopted. That's the kind of news I can use. Shelter newbies like Bright are often eager for Reiki. Certainly, adapting to shelter life must be stressful, to say the least. But certainly the long-termers like Freckles appreciate it as well.

Each week, I learn more from them, through Reiki.

Mandala Monday: Week 3

This week's fresh new mandala has been posted.

I discovered that the PDFs of earlier mandalas were quite small. Well, that is no fun when you are trying to color them! So I've gone back and resized each one, with apologies for any inconvenience. They really are coloring book quality now.

I've had to switch to posting smaller JPEGs here, just to give you a glimpse of this week's design, due to the original image size. If you are unable to download the PDF version, let me know and I can send you the JPEG via e-mail.

As always, check out the Mandala Mondays page for details about the monthly contest. Happy coloring!

Show and Tell

I would like to start posting a weekly recap of what I've made. This week, three new pairs of earrings were added to the shop. Click on the photo for more info.

Reiki Tails

Recently, my daughter and I had the opportunity to visit the The League for Animal Welfare, a local no-kill shelter. We've been volunteers there since last November. On this visit, we arrived during an unusually quiet time and found ourselves to be the only volunteers in the cat wing. This gave me the opportunity to have a seat in each of the rooms and offer Reiki to any cat that hopped into my lap, for as long as they cared to receive it. Of course, every cat in the room benefits from it, even if they choose to hide on the other side of the room, but some cats really want and enjoy the close contact. Some will even sniff and lick my hands as they sit there. I felt pretty popular when I was virtually swarmed upon entering certain rooms. It was like, "Hey, where have YOU been?" It makes me wish I could visit them everyday.

We hadn't been able to visit the shelter in a few months, so there were a lot of new feline friends to meet. The new friend on my lap in this photo is Rosalina and she is two years old. She came to the shelter with seven kittens and now awaits a home of her own. They say that she loves to hop on your lap and get attention, but I really can't confirm. *wink* I do know for certain that Rosalina loves Reiki ... she was kneeding her front paws the whole time.




This is my old friend, Bonnie. She is three years old and has been at the shelter a long time. She was found at an animal sanctuary, living with a group of feral cats. Up until this visit, Bonnie had always been too shy to make contact, so this photo capturing our connection is very special to me.


My daughter and I plan to visit the shelter on a weekly basis at least through this summer. When school is in session, it isn't always possible to go that often, but we definitely try. I love sharing Reiki with the kitties there ... and I look forward to sharing more Reiki Tails with you!

Mandala Monday: Week 2

For a coloring book quality copy, visit the Mandala Mondays page to download a PDF for free. Don't forget to submit your colored mandala (scanned or photographed) to me via e-mail to be uploaded to the Mandala Mondays album in the Gallery. You will be automatically entered into the monthly Mandala Mondays drawing to win a colorful pair of Jakk's Magic Beans Workshop earrings. (Only one entry per month, please!) The drawing for the June winner will be on Saturday, July 1st. Happy coloring!

Mandala Monday: Week 1

Welcome to the very first Jakk's Magic Beans Workshop Mandala Monday!

I have fallen in love with creating mandalas and I'm on a mission to get everyone to spend some quality time with a box of crayons. Coloring mandalas is a peaceful project that supports well-being by reducing stress. Had a long day? Color a mandala. Have a difficult phone call to make? Color a mandala. Have a problem on your mind? Yes, color a mandala. You get the idea.

Feel free to save the JPEG above. It should print as an 8x10 image, but it will (unfortunately) be a little bit fuzzy ... which won't matter if you are coloring it. For a coloring book quality copy, visit the Mandala Mondays page to download a PDF for free.

Your colored mandala (scanned or photographed) can be sent to me via e-mail to be uploaded to the Mandala Mondays album in the Gallery. (Think of it as a virtual version of your childhood refrigerator door.) When you do, you will be automatically entered into the monthly Mandala Mondays drawing to win a colorful pair of Jakk's Magic Beans Workshop earrings. (Only one entry per month, please!) The drawing for the June winner will be on Saturday, July 1st.

Happy coloring!