Author: caseifer

Born and raised in Maryland. I live in Phoenix. I am a creative. Favorite mediums are photography, writing, rocks, plants and food. I have two cats: Elvis and Biggie Smalls. I love the outdoors. I love the earth. Bigfoot is real. I hike and play disc golf. WWOOFING (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) has been the catalyst for many of my favorite experiences in life so far. I am spiritual and a seeker. I am magic. I am inspired and comforted by messages of Lee Carroll who channels Kryon and Sharon Stewart who channels Ivo.

Story Medicine

It is so tempting to use our energy worrying about others. It’s easy to redirect our attention to those around us, rather than confront an uncomfortable truth of our own.

1. Master Your Self

2. Honor the Free Choice of Others

I adopted these practices at the beginning of the year. I’m focusing on my personal growth and healing. I am learning to set boundaries that support my wellbeing.

I go to craniosacral therapy weekly. It makes me stop and “do nothing,” which I always need help with. It relaxes my muscles, calms my nerves and slows down my mind, making space for me to BE in my body!

I am healing myself from an injury in 1999 where I fell 6′ onto my head from the high jump. I have a chronic twist from the torque applied to my torso in that fall. I believe my psoas, diaphragm, stomach, nervous system, shoulder, neck and spine were affected.

Part of me is afraid to unwind all that is twisted up in my body from a twenty year old trauma. I am surrendering that idea and giving over to trusting myself.

On the table I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth. I try to let thoughts drift by. I face the fact that my mind can not unlock this puzzle and doesn’t need to think in this moment. My body will show the way.

In the spring I embraced the metaphor of blossoming as part of my healing story. I had a couple sessions where I could visualize the energy through my torso like a yin yang of dark shadowy space and white light space. A wavy line separating light and dark as if it were an energetic fault in my body.

I have the sensation of a gong moving through me- vibrating, releasing and rebalancing.

I’m hearing my body speak. I’m experiencing it in new ways. I’m moving back in to renewed awareness of parts of me. Being fully present and connected to it feels like coming home. My fingers and toes tingle.

Stuck energy is evaporating away, layer by layer. I’m unwinding. I’m learning to relax fully and deeply. I’m realizing it takes practice to relieve stress but that I alone can empower myself to heal.

Autumn awaits and with it the harvest. I have set boundaries with people in my life as a form of self care. I ask permission and want to be asked permission. I speak my needs from a loving place. I look for positive ways to connect where everyone is comfortable. It can feel uncomfortable to have the conversation, but it’s important to be truthful up front so that everyone can be happy.

Two weeks ago on the table, I had a sense of all the people that I care about circled around me. I saw and felt the energetic connection to each person as pure love. I put aside worry, discord and any need to fix anything between us. I trust others’ choices for their life and love them no matter what! I honor them.

I am here, at the center of this beautiful circle.

My awareness moves into the bubble that I inhabit. Here. I am safe. I trust myself. I find myself, loving myself, sending love to others and surrounded by people that I love no matter the circumstance. All of my friends and family surround me in a harmonious and balanced way.

I am prompted to speak my truth and tell my story. I am meeting my higher self- a melting inward.

Fantastic Fungi

We just watched Fantastic Fungi on Netflix and it was awesome! Mushrooms have so many applications from breaking down oil and plastics, to bug control, to immune support and maybe the next antibiotic that slows a pandemic! Mushrooms can save the world.

The documentary explores studies on Turkey Tail for cancer, Lions Mane for dementia and of course the magical Psylocybin for depression and anxiety.

Once again, regenerative agriculture comes to mind where fungi and bacteria benefit the life of our soil, plants, animals and climate.

I’ve started using mycorrhizal fungi when we put a plant in the ground because it helps the roots reach out into the soil and bring back nutrients. It also holds water. And sequesters carbon. Good stuff!

Found a dried praying mantis at the front door yesterday; it was a blue moon. Does anybody know what that means? LOL

On Covid

I don’t often post about the pandemic; I prefer to focus on finding my joy. But when I do, you’ll find me reading Matt Shapiro’s blog Marginally Compelling. I got hooked and recently became a subscriber for access to all of his content. In a recent post, I appreciate the reminder that it’s NOT ABOUT MORALITY!!

I sense from his writing that he is an independent thinker. He’s not trying to control or scare anyone. Shapiro is driven by curiosity and critical thinking.

I encourage you to subscribe to his newsletter! Or read some of his public posts and get hooked like I did. He does a monthly update for each state by region; check out his post for July. Here is one that talks about how Friends Don’t Belong in Buckets.

I also found this video to be a helpful reminder of the importance of maintaining proper perspective; it’s about Covid vaccinations and base rate fallacy.

For the last year, I am using an RSS reader for news. This let’s me pick the sites I follow and avoids me watching a news PROGRAM. I reserve my TV time for important shows like:

Love Island UK/AUS/USA, Catfish, 90 Day Fiance, Before the 90 days, Happily Ever After, the Other Way, Darcey & Stacey, the Single Life, the Family Chantel, Married At First Sight USA/AUS, Sister Wives, sMothered, Extreme Sisters, Welcome to Plathville, My Big Fat Fabulous Life, Seeking Sister Wife, Return to Amish, So Freaking Cheap, You, me & my Ex, Total Divas, Total Bellas, Miz & Mrs, Below Deck Med/Sailing, All Real Housewives franchises, Shahs of Sunset, Summer House, Southern Charm, Don’t Be Tardy, Vanderpump Rules, Marrying Millions, Family Karma, Doubling Down with the Derricos, the Farmer wants a Wife, I love a Mama’s Boy, Unexpected, Lost Resort, Camp Getaway, Toddlers & Tiaras…

Lemon Leaf Tea

Since I learned to feed my lemon tree three times a year, it gives me fruit! Right now the fruit is still green and camouflaged in the leafy canopy. I checked in with my tree yesterday and noticed that some of the “branches” were not woody or thorny; they were suckers that need to be pruned. Without the suckers, more energy can flow to the fruit-bearing branches.

I cut and bundled the suckers in my hands and as I did, a soft hint neroli tickled my nose! The tree is not flowering yet, but looks AND smells like it’s getting ready.

As I enjoyed the sensory experience of these prickly branches, I remembered being in the kitchen of a client and his wife. We were sitting at the island and she was heating up dinner for him and the contractors who were working out back. She had beautiful citrus trees and grape vines covering her yard. As I admired them, she told me that both lemon and grape leaves make a nutritive tea. She served me a cup with honey.

I’m going to make lemon leaf tea!

It was quite the epiphany. I removed leaves from the stems, then washed and dried them. I weighed 2 ounces of leaf into a 1/4 gallon mason jar, poured boiling water to the brim and sealed with a lid for 4-12 hours. When I popped the seal and strained the tea it was an amazing almost neon yellow color! And the flavor was just as inspiring- a harmony of light, lemon and leafiness. Next time I’m going to crush the leaves a bit before brewing.

It’s hard to find any information about lemon leaf and it’s preparations or beneficial qualities. If you have any stories or recipes, I’d be happy to hear them.

Stop the drama; Start a new life

This book changed my perspective on every social interaction I’ve had since. I feel like I cannot unsee what it showed me! Every one can benefit from reading this e-book, “Stop Being a Victim! The Secret to Inner Happiness” by Sharon Stewart. It’s affordable, short and life-changing. I highly recommend!

I wish I could buy this in print. It is definitely worthy of the home library. Here are some excerpts that really resonated with me:

Yoga Space

Well, we rearranged the entire house this week and deep, DEEP cleaned the thing as we went!

It all started when I had to move the dining room table to make space to pin a quilt. But before I got to pinning, it turned into a yoga space. So then I had to find a new yoga spot with room for the trampoline. Then the sauna got shifted, and the couch too.

Elvis the cat was nervous with all the upheaval, but once it all settled, he approved of the changes. Can you tell that he’s the boss? Now we are happy campers with a yoga space, a basted quilt that’s ready for quilting and a quilt fort for Elvis!

Clafouti Comeback

Clafouti makes a comeback cause it’s cherry season!

This delightfully simple little custard is so yummy when served cold with my iced coffee for breakfast.

I pitted a bag of cherries, but didn’t have any milk. My neighbor saved the day by delivering me a Mason jar of “borrowed” milk, so I doubled the recipe and gave her a dish. It’s fun to share!

Then we went to practice for our Rock Painting Band and enjoyed clafouti for dessert- after the ham and cheese Hawaiian rolls marinated in butter, Dijon, Worcestershire and onion.

Don’t worry, I served it with a salad that featured sprouted lentils and pepita. Now that’s a good day!