Jakk's Magic Beans Life: November 2009

Monday, November 30, 2009

Waterfall Reiki Shawl Begins

Today I prepared the yarn to begin a brand new Reiki shawl, which hereafter shall be lovingly referred to as Waterfall I. The last shawl that I made was over the summer for a dear friend who is wading her way through the grieving process. It is such an honor to be able to create and offer something that can be of comfort to another.

Each time I finish a Reiki shawl, I have every intention of immediately fetching more yarn to begin another. But I blink and days, weeks, and sometimes even months pass me by without so much as one stitch. Somehow the Goddess of Needlework always forgives me, because no matter how much time goes by, this process never fails me ... never fails to flow. It also never lets me go. There will be always be another. Not an if, but when.

Today actually marks Day 2 of the Reiki shawl creation process. I count the quest for the yarn as Day 1. This is when you will find me at the local Hobby Lobby, doing my best to make up my mind. Despite my personal preference for all things natural, I like the yarn that I use for many reasons. There is a wide variety of rich colors and varigated combinations available. Color is important. It is also super soft, which is important, too. And, quite frankly, the affordability makes it so much easier for me to keep these shawls coming. But I do hope to have organic options available in the future.

Day 2 is about energetically clearing the yarn and charging it up with Reiki. I wind each skein into a ball and flash back to sitting at my grandmother's feet, watching her do the same. I'm not sure if it really makes the crocheting process that much easier than leaving the skein as purchased, but this step connects me to Grandma and other ancestors who, out of love and necessity, crafted things of warmth and comfort with a needle and string. These women are in every stitch I make.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Day 16,125

I would not consider my thumb to be particularly green, but I most definitely have a way with violets. My mother recently transferred custody of two that had been given to her as gifts, only to grow sad and sickly over time. She knew that their only hope was to come live with me.

As much as I was tempted to cut off the shriveling, mildewed outer leaves, I trusted my intuition and let them be. Sometimes a hard prune can stimulate healing but other times it can serve as the crushing blow. I sensed that gentleness was called for here. They needed tender tending and for me, for the most part, to leave well enough alone.

Clearly, there had been some enthusiastic watering going on in their past. Violets like to be moist, but a steady diet of sopping-wet and they will surely drown. I find that they actually prefer to lean toward the dry side. Once their dirt has dried out completely, I sit them in a bowl of room temperature distilled water to soak up from the holes at the bottom of their pot. This big drink happens every 10 days or so, depending on the time of year. With our furnace at full blast these days, it's high dry season in my house, so I tend to water more like once per week.

I am already being rewarded with new growth. They are giving birth to leaves that are sturdy, unmarked, and robust in color. In a few more weeks, I will add a wee pinch of epsom salts at the root base to stimulate flower production ... but they may very well surprise me and produce buds on their own.

I appreciate the reminder that I don't always have to fuss and fiddle to make things happen.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Day 16,120

The approach of winter always seems to bring me back around to the blog. I begin by poking it to see if there may be signs of stirring. When I scrape off a bit of the bark, I see bright green. There's hope. Thank goodness. There's always hope.

We have fewer than 40 days left in 2009 and I have already begun my review. Things didn't unfold the way that I had expected this year, but that's the thing with setting goals and making plans. Always best to be gentle and keep them flexible, because the river is gonna go where the river chooses to flow.

I look forward to fully absorbing what I have learned and experienced and carrying that wisdom with me into 2010. I have already crafted my intentions for the new year and feel excited yet somewhat surprised at what has welled up within me in the process. More than intentions, they feel like invitations to me. Calling me forward and yet back to a path that had been all but abandoned. Always hope. Always.

I look forward to sharing the unfolding here with you. Step by step. Day by day. Maybe we will make some serendipitous discoveries along the way.