the dreaming Press.

stoke the fires of your *atlas* heart

A couple, {heck a few!} urgent things. I'll get to them most hurriedly, so you don't waste a single precious moment that you could be using to sign on for grand explorations and juicy adventures {that you so deserve}.

First, my friend Debbie wants to extend an invitation for you to go to INDIA.

Second,my beautiful blogging friend Lisa has a deadline to meet, so that she can go to MEXICO.

Third, my friend Tara is hostessing the best life-changing trip {trust me, I've done it}, to JORDAN.

Last,but certainly not least, I am taking a group of women through the Women's Travel Network to MOROCCO.

So, now with all of these updates your way...it's all up to you. Maybe it's time to pay it forward and give a little to see another realize the work of her dreams...or maybe it's that time to pack a suitcase with your camera, your journal and a couple of pairs of undies, sunscreen...and hit the road to realize your own sweeping and vast dreams.

I've prioritized the list according to time deadlines. Lisa will need your help within the next ten days. Debbie has room for you up until tomorrow only.

The other two are very important, but can be discussed in another upcoming post real soon. If I were you I'd head over to see the INDIA and MEXICO links first. Thanks friends, fellow adventurers and loving hearts. You are all cherished, deeply, each of you. xo

p.s. photo of the lovely blue doorway taken from a bumbling yet speeding van in the Middle East while driving along sharing cups of hot nuts and listening to this or something like it...in March 2010

Planting future gratitudes.

 
I'm colouring my hair blonder tonight and I painted my nails blue iguana.  A star studded indigo blue that is reminiscent of cosmic fluidity.   I've asked my eldest little girl to star in  my photography portfolio-she is concerned for just about everyone she has ever met and is so open and wise and I aspire to be like her though she is younger-you know? and we are cooking up the most fabulously fun photo shoots you could dream up this spring!  I'll keep you posted as to that, you can bet.

The lake is rumoured to be coolishly freezingish tomorrow and so we'll dress in layers as we feed our friends the chickadees.  A fresh group of gals is meeting tomorrow and we've formed a tribe of sorts that meets on Sundays to reconnect to each other and the Earth.  We disconnect from our on-line lives and meet in the flesh and in the out-of-doors.  What could be better for the spirit I ask you?

Last but certainly not least, you know how I rave on about my friends & family well here I go again...my good friend Tara Bradford was kind enough to post about the trip to Morocco in October.  Magical Morocco.  Please visit Tara to read her entry about the previous trips we've taken together and about the upcoming trip to Morocco.  You are more than welcome to come with us... there are a few spots left for women travellers. The trip is fully escorted and will be such fun I can hardly wait. 

Give it some thought and if you like you can read more here. I can see us now, wandering the souks...sipping mint tea and snapping photos.  Laughing under the stars in the desert and making new friends.  Trips are the one thing you can keep with you forever...for they are experiences.  Worth their weight in gold and then some.  However if you cannot make it this time, there will always and will always be...future trips. 

Plant with me now the seeds of your future gratitudes...the things that you will look back upon and smile about.

xoxo

 

 

 

Grasping little handfuls of awareness.

 

I can't think of Japan and not think of the woman centered in the photograph above. {Japan is one of her favourite places on the planet.}  This shot of Christine and fellow traveller Donna posing with local Jordanians, taken by me last year on a photographic safari through the country of Jordan led by Tara Bradford. 

I'm wondering how Japan will fare after all that rushing water has stilled; after the initial shock of being devastated takes hold of them, testing their resilience.  I can barely concentrate on anything else; stuck on news headlines and up-to-the-minute reports.  It seems as of late that the colour has been desaturated from our world.  Though it is on the other side of the globe it still resonates deeply with us doesn't it? We are one, and tragedy often points that out for us if we've tended to forget.

There is a current trend in my life.  I'm connecting to people in the real world.  Oh I love this medium don't get me wrong.  It is a very wonderful and precious thing to me, this online life.  It is such a meaningful thing to seek out like-minded individuals who lift us up-give us something to aspire to.  But in life, often times we are disconnected from our living and breathing fellow human beings.  Recently it has been a key point in my awareness to embrace moments of conversation, of dreams shared, meals over red wine & spiced tea, eye-to-eye soulful connectedness to my children {listening-really listening}, and of course the sound of my own breathing.  Yes lately I'm embracing the simple act of breathing, and reflected in that notion is a timely meditation course I will be attending.  A serendipitous meeting with the facilitator has resulted in this for which I'm grateful. 

I've also surrounded myself lately with my beloved earthy things; fresh flowers, bread baking, housework.  Phone calls to fellow bloggers-yes! Fellow bloggers! For once I wanted to tell them my thoughts instead of leaving them as comments. 

Ideas are sprouting up from the deep sea of my mind that have me really wanting to get my hands in the dirt a-planting {spring, finally}, my brushes a-arting, and my markers a-illustrating.  I fell in love; deeply, longingly and inspiringly in love with the Monarch butterfly last year {courtesy of a good friend, thank you Dianne} and can think of nothing else but harvesting those eggs again and raising more Monarchs this year.  The very idea of it has me bursting with glee like a child about to go in a candy store.  Now I'm sure if you ask my neighbours, they'd much rather see me out with a spade in my hand come springtime.  They've endured the ill terrain that is considered my backyard for nearly two years since we've moved in.  So won't they be pleasantly surprised to see the breaking of the dirt with a shovel?  Never have I lived so long without flower beds or trees.  Moving here, working countless hours and raising young girls has put some of my passions on the backburner.  {I'm so used to gardening ordinarily that a huge void is lurking in my life that needs to be filled.}  A gardener needs dirt on her hands.  Plain and simple.  I miss the smell of the soil too. 

All these simple acts of the everyday add up to lots of little handfuls of awareness.  Like taking water into cupped hands from a running faucet, ready to drink.  These awarenesses are building blocks of my good life.  I keep the Japanese in my awareness too; for I truly feel that it is healing to do so. 

My children watched Bridge to Terabithia for the one millionth time this weekend.  In the story, the little girl writes a timely poem that she reads to her class.  I won't spoil it for you if you haven't seen this gem of a movie.  But I want to share with you her words because the author of this book Katherine Paterson really nailed it.  I thought of how fragile our human existence is, and how we all need to preoccupy ourselves with the little handfuls of gratitude and awareness while we have them...

"I’m moving gently forward over the wild and beautiful unexplored world below me. I am floating in silence and breaking it up with the sound of my breath.

Above me there is nothing but shimmery light; the place where I come from and will go back to when I am done here.

I am diving. I am a SCUBA diver. I’m going deeper past the wrinkled rocks and dark seaweed toward a deep blueness where a school of silver fish wait. As I swim through the water, bubbles burst from me, wobbling as little jellyfish as they rise.

I check my air. I don’t have as much time as I need to see everything, but that is what makes it so special.”

– Bridge to Terabithia 

                                                

who needs a guru~?

 
I do! But since I don't have one, I'll settle for this journal I ordered online. I love doing any kind of "soul" work.  It is gratifying beyond words.  I'm delving in to my core beliefs, and other juicy soul stuff! I can't wait to go home and journal for today.

It has clouded over today.  But nothing will bring me down {yay! Chilean miners!}...I'm cleaning out my studio space tonight. {My basement, lol} There are such fun things lurking down there; paints, ribbons, buttons, glue guns, sparkles, stamps, inks, papers, fabrics! I just may stay down there for awhile. :)

The lovely photo above taken by Christine Mason Miller, while we were on a photo safari last March in Jordan.  She's a fabulous chick with lots of elephants to sell for a great cause, go see. :)

xo

Ana bahebik Tara!

A flower in Jordan, for my friend in Paris.  Happy birthday, feliz cumpleanos, ana bahebik and feliz aniversario to Tara; adventurer, writer, photographer and friend based currently in Paris and soon to be Amsterdam!

Tara is a truly gifted writer and photographer, world wide traveller, life adventurer and trip facilitator.  {Of course that is only the tip of the iceberg.}  I was fortunate to have had the pleasure of meeting her online in 2006.  Then in New York City in 2008.  Then again in Jordan in 2010.  Where we meet next is anyone's guess but we will, that is for certain. There are talks of trains, films and Delhi....

Happy birthday Tara, may there be many fun filled trips, many happy returns, beautiful soulful images captured on your many cameras and many wishes come true for you today! Much love to you today and always. xoxo

I love people. Just love 'em. (From the Maritimes to the Middle East)

I took this photo of my friend Zohrab recently in Nova Scotia, at a place called Burntcoat Head.  {My thoughts are with him as he flies over the Atlantic right now on his way home to Amman.} This glorious place full of red rock and sandstone boasts the highest tides in the world.  The highest.  For this reason they are in the running for New7Wonders of Nature.  Pretty amazing-right? So would you kindly go and vote at www.VoteMyFundy.com and help a great nation like Canada rank among the best of the best?  I will only nag you periodically about this (or aboot this, depending on my accent) so as not to annoy you.  That in itself is so very Canadian, the fact that I don't want to trouble you to help my great nation win.  If it isn't an imposition, please go vote.  You know, the Bedouin helped to put Petra in the world spotlight.  I think together we can do the same for this place of wondrous beauty, The Bay of Fundy. Not only are the tides the highest, the people are the greatest! That should be a category.  "People who make the world a better place." Selfless, fun loving, proud and strong.  Oops, just aboot described every Canadian in that last sentence.

Happy Canada Day! How can I forget?  Our winner of the gift certificate is a Canadian herself, *Jen M* congrats to you! CSNStores will contact you to get you your prize. Thanks to all who shared their love of music with me.  There were some very poetic suggestions.  My soul is touched- I thank you.  I am open to suggestions as you know, but only if they are kind, and selfless.  :)

As for Petra, this wonder of the world, this place where I met my friend Zohrab-please go to Tara's site for the next trip which will blow your mind. (See for yourself why it is one of the New7.)  After all, we all love an adventure that leads us beyond our front doors, don't we?

See you in Jordan (where lo and behold if we have our way, you'll meet the Mi'kmaq too). xoxo

The inability to open up to hope is what blocks trust, and blocked trust is the reason for blighted dreams.~Elizabeth Gilbert (love her too!)

P.S. Here is a nugget you may appreciate, as told to me from the Universe in a divine letter...Insecurity is the greatest social pirahna of our time.  How many of YOU have fallen victim unnecessarily to insecurity? Drop the illusion!  You are as good or better.  Don't ever forget. xo (olé to you nonetheless)

 

Freedom 'neath the open skies.

The Bedouin.  Ammarin Bedouin Camp, in Beidha, Jordan. Our van pulled up to the camp in total darkness -the only light was a backdrop of a trillion stars illuminating the silhouetted shadows of the Bedouin men standing there to welcome us.  Frankincense was fragrancing the air, they were tossing it onto the fire to perfume the environment. We were warmly welcomed into the tent to enjoy a tasty dinner, a cultural lesson & to get to know these generous people. Then an amusing moment...a cell phone rang, and the man in the Jordanian headscarf excused himself to answer it. 

A healing man who also makes music with a rabab for the guests. I found out it is a lambskin covered box with a single horsehair string and played with a horsehair bow.  It sounds very uniquely Arabian.

 

Guests at our table included a woman travelling with her son; they were regaling us with stories of going into the Dead Sea and what that was like. The boy travels quite frequently with his mother and has been to a lot of remote places. 

Gathering around a low table, we ate like royalty.  But the hospitality didn't end with the delicious food.  They shared their culture in many ways with us, including the music and the healing/shamanic work that was offered to some people who wanted it. The hosts were gracious, accomodating and eager to share the history of their desert culture.

 
Baskets of fruit and cookies.

The hand of Swirly Girl herself, reaching out for some cookies.

These two are good friends with each other.  Both are my friends.  Friend *one* is the most beautiful Tara, travel guide extraordinaire! The other is a *new* friend of mine, Zohrab-photographer to the Late King Hussein and his family.  He is a fantastic photographer who focuses currently on landscape photography. The two have known each other for some time...

Here Zohrab has his arm looked at by the musician/healing man Saaed (sp?).  There seemed to be nothing this man didn't know about.  He was oh so wise.

I was sad leaving this place.  I wanted an entire week there.  It had a tremendous energy-full of fresh air, great food, gentle people, quiet, stars, incense, a cosy atmosphere, and more.  It would be a fantastic place to go meditate or work in solitude if you are an artist.  So much inspiration could be drawn from here. It is said from what I've read before that the Arab's love their freedom-hence their nomadic lifestyle. Yet. A juxtaposition. There is a certain grounding you feel from being in the care of these people that is otherworldly-almost *heaven-like*.  The spirituality seems to saturate every corner of the camp, from the veiled woman baking flatbread to the little carpets strewn everywhere.  Go!-take a leap of faith and sign up for Tara's next trip to Jordan.  You will thank me. Oh wow, when you come back down to earth that is.  {Still suffering post-travel blues.} xo

If I Were...

Photo of mangoes taken last summer at the Taste of the Danforth food festival...xo  

The other day while reading one of my "food-for-thought" staples, Paris Parfait-I enjoyed reading Tara's list of the things she would be.  "If I Were" was inspired by someone down the blogging line, and picked up by Tara via Julochka's blog, Moments of Perfect Clarity.  Now it is my turn.  I'll pass the torch on to you, should you like to join in the creativity.  Leave me a comment if you do one of these, so I can visit and read all about who you would be...xo   

If I were a month, I'd be October...

If I were a day, I’d be Sunday...

If I were a time of day, I’d be 3 a.m...

If I were a font, I’d be Arab Dances....

If I were a sea animal, I’d be a blue whale of the Indian Ocean....

If I were a direction, I’d be south...

If I were a piece of furniture, I'd be a deluxe four poster bed in which to dream upon...

If I were a liquid, I'd be Argan Oil...

If I were a gemstone, I'd be lapis lazuli...

If I were a tree, I'd be a sequoia...

If I were a tool, I'd be a mortar & pestle...

If I were a flower, I'd be a rambling red rose

If I were an element of weather, I'd be an orange sunset with no clouds in sight...

If I were a musical instrument, I'd be a zampoña!

 

If I were a colour, I'd be RED

If I were an emotion, I'd be LOVE.

If I were a fruit, I'd be a juicy orange (liquid sunshine)

If I were a sound, I'd be the click of a marker cap going back on.

If I were an element, I'd be gold.

If I were a car, I'd be a red convertible Mustang...

If I were a food, I'd be souvlaki!

If I were a place, I'd be a loft apartment in New York City with a view of Central Park...

If I were a material, I'd be pashmina...

If I were a taste, I'd be black licorice :)

If I were a scent, I'd be oriental

If I were a body part, I'd be the heart.

If I were a song, I'd be THIS.

If I were a bird, I'd be a phoenix.

If I were a gift, I'd be a Moroccan wedding blanket...

If I were a city, I'd be Phoenix, Arizona...the valley of the sun :)

If I were a door, I'd be this one.

If I were a pair of shoes, I'd be oh...these.  Right now anyways.  Cute with boyfriend jeans or shorts.

If I were a poem, I'd be...

اولـها
که عشق آسان نمود اول ولی افتاد مشکل‌ها
بـه بوی نافه‌ای کاخر صبا زان طره بگـشاید
ز تاب جعد مشکینش چه خون افـتاد در دل‌ها
مرا در منزل جانان چه امـن عیش چون هر دم
جرس فریاد می‌دارد که بربندید مـحـمـل‌ها
بـه می سجاده رنگین کن گرت پیر مغان گوید
کـه سالک بی‌خبر نبود ز راه و رسم منزل‌ها
شـب تاریک و بیم موج و گردابی چنین هایل
کـجا دانـند حال ما سبکـباران ساحـل‌ها
همـه کارم ز خود کامی به بدنامی کشید آخر
نـهان کی ماند آن رازی کز او سازند محفل‌ها
حضوری گر همی‌خواهی از او غایب مشو حافظ
مـتی ما تلق من تهوی دع الدنیا و اهملـها .

 

xo

Tea? Why, yes please....

If I invited you in for tea, would you accept?

Would you offer my child a sweet?  Ask him his name?

Would it matter to you that my second floor was absent? Waiting patiently for the second generation to build and move their family in, according to tradition....?

  
Will your children understand the level of patience and calm that our children afford them- in the face of no video games or television to distract them....?

When you stop to breathe in our landscape, will you allow us our space? That in which we have not built up in the name of commerce or gain?  We have precious things to offer the world that don't involve competing with larger cities or countries....!  We hold our own, thank you.

Would you join us for herbal tea?  Perchance in places where famous people were taking steps in their own journeys?  Tea with mint never tasted so nice!  Oh and beautiful Israel is just 15 feet away.  However, do not veer off the provided path, for land mines are located any which way, and cameras are trained on your every step-so going off the path could mean any number of troubles for you!  We are in a military zone, you see. (It is for your own protection, dear friends.)

My goodness the river is cold.  COLD.  See page 157 of the April 2010 National Geographic to see just exactly where a certain group of travellers stood, not three weeks ago.

If you feel enough at home then please accept our hospitality.  We'll be insulted if you do not. 

So-one lump or two? It would seem that in Jordan, sugar in your tea is the norm.  It is expected.  So if this sounds like your kind of place, do visit and stay for tea.  You won't regret a single moment of it.  xo

As usual click to enlarge the photos.  However, the shot of the little girl at Petra was out of focus, but she was so cute I couldn't stand not posting her, so forgive the photographers blunder. :)

Mezze at Lebanese House

Welcome!...of course I have to take you out for lunch..won`t you join me....

Call whoever you need to now, before we start...you won't be getting up from the table until it's time to roll you out... 

I do hope you are hungry.  We are having a typical Middle Eastern meal called a 'mezze' or 'mezzeh'. 

Among the fresh olives, lemon mint drinks & grilled meats, we have hummus, tabouleh & roquette salad...

Of course there are plenty of fresh baked flat breads and things I can't pronounce or remember the names of.

 
 
Oh and just outside is a spectacular view...terraced farming is practiced by the Jordanians due to the many hills and mountains that make up the geography.

Just outside is a bevy of blooms...Jordan seems bursting at the seams with life and we were there to catch it all.

 

Should you happen to look up, you'll notice as I do the many lamps and lanterns the beautify Lebanese House. 

So sorry to distract you from your delicious mezze.  Please, enjoy some more food why don't you...there is plenty...

If you are a tried and true North American and simply can`t get through a meal without it, well....here is your Arabian ketchup.

  

When in Jerash, Jordan visit Lebanese House for the most delicious meal with a stunning view. Perhaps if you are lucky enough to join Ms.Tara Bradford on her next `Journey to Jordan` then you too will eat lunch at this famous restaurant.

Jordan, Jerash
Tel Fax: 00962-2-6351301