After all the wonderful visits it was back to the usual routine.  It has been so absolutely wonderful to visit and I will have memories to treasures until the next visits.  The next visit will be Ireland!  I will be leaving in July for a few weeks!! I did receive a lovely package from Ireland last week.  It was full of wonderful goodies and I have been savoring them bit by bit!  Is there anything more lovely than receiving a care package from a loved one?  I just love all the items my daughter chose to send! I am using the soap and it is delightful!  That Barry tea….OMG there is no need for coffee as it is truly the bomb!!

But I must share a most transformative experience!  Since beginning the mind body medicine Phd program I have been fascinated by all the alternative medicines and their ability to support the whole person: mind, body, spirit. Working towards balancing my own wellness wheel has lead me to a deep sense of self.  I had been interested in Reiki for some time and a month back visited a Reiki Circle which was an amazing experience.  Well last week end I took the Reiki I and II training.  I was lead to Holy Fire Reiki and my guide/instructor is such an amazing amazing person.  The experience was so deeply spiritual and through it I had a deep reconnection with my own faith tradition and spirituality.  Holy Fire Reiki has literally transformed my life.  I came away from that week-end with a clarity and deep understanding of my purpose and the gifts God has so graciously bestowed upon me.  I have felt that I am in a transition period and that I am being prepared for a change in what I am currently doing.  I now believe this more than ever and am just allowing myself to be lead to where I belong at this time and this place in my life.  I am much calmer and able to be open to embrace whatever life has to throw my way.  Reiki is a way of life and I now practice daily to gain wisdom, peace, understanding, and to send out and receive God’s perfect love.  I am ever so deeply grateful that I was lead to this practice and the gifts I receive daily though the practice!  Being a hyper-sensitive person and an empath, it is so easy to take on the emotions of others and allow those to impact our own health.  Reiki has given me a way to channel the gift of an empathic soul to heal self and others.  I struggle to put this experience into words so will just leave it at that…  You can learn more about Holy Fire Reiki here: https://www.reiki.org

I have been out and found a few treasures here and there.  In needing to up my wardrobe I have been doing some thrift shop trips and while I have found some amazing wardrobe pieces I have also found a few other goodies as well.  This is from my most recent trip.

I like to decorate my outside fence with faces and have quite a nice collection.  I just love this clay mask and it is just the perfect addition to my collection!

When I was a child this exact picture hung on the wall of our house at the ranch.  Imagine my delight when I found it!  The older I get the more nostalgic I seem to become.  I have always been an empath and a hyper sensitive person, but it just increases as I age. I love surrounding myself with items from my childhood.

I was delighted to have my best friend Mia arrive for an overnight stay.  Although it was a quick visit it was absolutely wonderful!  Since it was a Friday we headed out for a few estate sales.  Just the previous day I had purchased a bevy of Hummels from a lady who was going to have a yard sale so that was out first stop.  These are the darling pieces I managed to score.

This little guy has a pig in his back pack and is just the cutest thing ever!

Mia found some treasures as well. I also got found this St Francis.

Unfortunately Mia had to be on her way and I had to head to work.  But on my way to work I passed by a sale and found these treasures.  I have been wanting a Ginny doll forever!

A trip to my local nature grocer and I found these gems.  I went in to find the Reiki magazine but found 3 issues of Mantra Wellness.  This is a new to me magazine and just absolutely full of wonderful articles and beautiful painted saying and illustrations.  I will savor each issue!

As I have been being lead deep into the mind, body, spirit connection and the need for balance in all areas of the wellness wheel, I have been using my essential oils more often and in healing ways.  Add the Reiki experience and I was determined as ever to bring these practices deeper into my work place.  Working in the field of long term care there is always drama and loss which creates an imbalanced and often negative chaotic energy.  I often find the need to clear the energy.  Yes it may sound crazy, but I have always been extremely sensitive to energy forces both good and bad.  I now have better tools to direct, divert, avoid negative energy.  I diffuse many blends to cleanse my office and wear oils to protect, cleanse, and release energy.  I recently found this amazing spray and immediately ordered a bottle.  It has crystals inside the bottle as well.

You can clearly see the web address.  She has many wonderful items in her shop!!  This won’t be my only purchase for sure!  I also added a few special pieces of decor that bring me joy and peace.

As an HSP my environments are important sources of either peace or chaos.

You know how every once in a while you come across a book that is just so amazing you just can’t seem to get enough of it?  I have found that in Matt Richtel An Elegant Defense. I first listened to the book on audio.  But then just had to have a copy to start reading and highlighting passages.  This is a book about our immune system and fits in so perfectly with my PhD training! It goes quite in-depth about the working of the immune system and how it impacts our health as it is so connected to every other system in our body.  The author uses 4 case studies to highlight the research that has been done and where we are currently in understanding of the immune system.  With the rise in auto immune diseases it is definitely a must read!!  It is absolutely fascinating!!  You can find it here  https://www.amazon.com/Elegant-Defense-Extraordinary-Science-Immune/dp/0062698532

I have done little knitting or sewing of late so nothing to share.  I have been doing mindless socks and dish towels in the evenings while watching my latest go to Brit series.

And now I must away and get some work done.  I had earmarked this three day week end to do some organizing in the garage storage.  Something I put off as it is quite the drudgery!

Peace,

Patricia