Day 16,731 Gratitude

Today I am so grateful ...

For Church of the (W)Hole(y) Foods time with my dear friend, Sandra. We try to meet monthly, but the simmering weeks of this summer got away from us. It was soulful goodness to reconnect with her and it refueled me to share with her the details of my transformational travels.

For watching the two elderly men who sat at the table beside us, right in front of the checkout aisles. They clasped hands above their table and said grace over their meal. Now I am not a grace-sayer, by nature, at least not in the traditional sense. But it warmed my heart to see them so openly sharing their gratitude for their food and the blessing of it.

For Instagram on my iPhone 3GS. This app in combination with Camera+ rocks my socks off. My phone is almost always with me. Having it at-the-ready for photos and the ability to post-process on the spot makes me a happy, playful girl. I'm Jul of the Day on there ... look me up and follow me, if inclined.

For Pamela's Jazz. Beautiful Pamela was part of our Taos sketchbook journaling crew. She is not only an amazing collage artist, but she sings like an angel as well. If you live in the Greater Cincinnati area, you can see her live. Check out her website for details.

For Pixie Campbell's Soul Lodge which begins on August 8 and the fact that I am registered and ready to go! Pixie is one wise, wild woman and I can't wait to discover what magic she has in store.

For taking the leap and registering for Kathleen Prasad's Shinpiden Reiki III class at the C.A.R.E. Foundation in Apopka, Florida, February 23-25. This is an exciting opportunity to practice Reiki with wild and exotic animals at this amazing sanctuary. And Florida at the end of February will be a welcome respite from what is typically a long Cincinnati winter. I always appreciate having an adventure to look forward to ... especially a unique experience like this.

What are YOU grateful for these days?

Day 16,723: Cicada Season

It's cicada season around here
I celebrate the daily discovery
Of discarded shells found in
Peculiar and precarious places
The first found last week
On the brick of the back
Of our house by the patio door
In the days and weeks ahead
There will be dozens vacated
On the stark and sturdy trunk
Of the Sycamore tree that
Is the guardian of our home
It makes sense that they
Would climb her considering
They awake from their slumber
In the warm, moist ground
At her base, between her roots
This cicada was called to climb
This swaying coneflower stem
In order to release itself
From the very vehicle
That assisted it to ascend
To such heights as to fly
Be free and to sing
Hopefully mate, ultimately die
More signs of transformation
Each and all with their season

P.S.
I love my iPhone.

Day 16,722: Frog Medicine

We arrived home late last night
After sweating through Steely Dan in concert
A moist and sticky mid-July evening
Air thick with the songs of night creatures
It stormed while we were away
What held the promise of a welcome respite
From the impressive heat only served
To increase the oppressive humidity
As some things wither in this climate
Other things thrive, as evidenced
By this sweet little guy ... or girl
That had taken temporary residence
On the glass of our back door
We have lived in this house
Over nine years and I still marvel
At the magical discovery of things
That have never before happened
Or revealed themselves here before
A reminder to always stay alert, awake
Because one can never know for certain
What never-before may appear
Frog medicine indicates transformation
Message heard loud and clear

Day 16,716: Looking In, Looking Out

I have been basking in the afterglow of Shinpiden Reiki Teacher training which wrapped up on July 3. This is a powerful class and it really does take me a week or two to fully land afterward. My practice (and gratitude) have gone deeper as a result. And I am counting many new friends among my blessings.

Although I am quite late to the party, I've become completely enchanted by all things iPhoneography lately. You can find me on Instagr.am at juloftheday. My photo app collection is growing out of control and, well, it feels pretty good to give myself over to learning something new with complete abandon. It seems to be a theme for me this year.

That said, my sketchbook journal has been suffering from a bit of neglect in recent weeks, but it is always by my side just the same. I appreciate that it's handy for collecting the ephemera and notes of day-to-day life, but it isn't working for me as well as it could if I do not include drawing in the mix. And I haven't. Not since Florida a month ago. A month is too long. I am grateful to recognize this sooner than later.

From Taos to the sea and then to Reiki training, it has been two months of transformation. In so many ways, I feel like I have been taken apart and put back together again. Travel outward and inward has a way of making everything look and feel completely different upon returning home. I am in a state of assessment ... uncertain of what needs me to rededicate myself to it and what needs to be released. But trust me, multiple options is the best kind of problem to have.

Share with me what July is looking and feeling like for you ...

Day 16,704: A Breather

I didn't go into the last six weeks intending for it to be a breather, but a breather it has been. Nor did I have any idea that between Taos and now, I would feel completely rewired, but rewired I have been. I pull up this screen for a new post and I blink. Where have I been? What the heck happened? How soon can I do it again?

Today I embark on the first of three days of Shinpiden (Reiki teacher) training with Frans Stiene. This is the class that I took in San Rafael, California in April, 2009. I have the good fortune of resitting it practically in my backyard at beautiful Grailville in Loveland, Ohio. So the theme of transformation continues and my socks continue to be rocked off.

Once this phase of re-entry is complete, I look forward to showing up here on a more regular basis once again. In the meantime, I am grateful for supportive loved ones who have been helping me to keep my train on the track ... for green smoothies that bring me nourishment and energy for travels inward and out ... for abundant summer blooms that constantly beckon me to grab my camera. Happy New Moon (and solar eclipse!) to you! Tell me what brings you gratitude on these bright and balmy days.