BlogTracks: You Dig, Dig, Dig. What Have You Got There? Gold!

Welcome to BlogTracks! Click on the links for a multimedia experience of sight and sound to inspire, motivate, and elevate your creativity and storytelling energy.

I received a double rainbow during a nap in what I think was a dream even though I felt like I was awake. Now this is quite fascinating to me because I’ve been viewing and listening to a song titled “Wishery” (a remix of a song from Walt Disney’s Snow White that I discovered through one of the Facebook groups. This led me to thinking about mining for gold within myself and others as a healing artist. The gold nuggets I’m talking about are mental, emotional, physical, electromagnetic and spiritual energy that can yield treasure in many forms.

I don’t know about you, but for many years I have loved the song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” made famous by Judy Garland singing it in the film, The Wizard of Oz. It taught me to believe I had to travel over it to get to “the pot of gold” to transmute and transform the stress and troubles of my life to beauty, peace, and tranquility. It seemed so far away, so way up high, too high, and how do I get to it?

It took me gently digging into my self with a master healer as my guide to discover the answer that I had forgotten: I AM the rainbow. The rainbow that exists above also exists below: the rapture of the double rainbow – the rainbow of love. Every person is a living rainbow to me, the manifestation of the rainbow light here on earth, and can come to believe that they are the true Wiz of their life. I don’t want to get into a conflict with any fans of leprechauns, but I am proof that the pot of gold is not over the rainbow but instead within me. Those nuggets and gems are within each of us, ready to be accessed, retrieved, revealed in the hidden places in our minds, physical and energy forms, hearts and spirits when we are ready to awaken, heal, and live the lives we dare to dream.

Music artists: Judy Garland, Carole King, Stevie Wonder, Tania Maria, Lena Horne, and Keith Jarret.

As the disabled child Tiny Tim says in the book, "A Christmas Carol", written by Charles Dickens: "God bless us, Everyone!"

Valerie

HOLIDAZE (Excerpt from a Short Story About the Loss of My Mother)

Image Credit & Copyright: David Castillo Dominici

I am sharing an excerpt from a short story about the affect of my mother's death on my life (Sarah Bernice Turner Oliver Hoskins, March 2, 1933 - September 12, 1979).

A book of short stories is a component of my memoir project that's been in storage for a while. This one is from Holidaze in the chapter titled, "The Anniversary." The short story isn't finished yet, nor has it been edited (I've no guilt about imperfections as per Cassie's guest post), but I'm happy that my Creator has guided me to share it with you just the same. Remember to hug your mother and tell her you love her. Love, serenity and joy to you and your loved ones.

HOLIDAZE
by Valerie Michele Oliver

THE ANNIVERSARY. 
I write. We buried her. Anger, sadness, and numbness competed inside me for priority. When I last saw my mom, she was not the person I wanted her to be: the face with the perpetual smile. She tried to be though, attempting smiles through urine-soaked eyes, and dry, wrinkled skin. She vacillated between being skeletal thin or bloated, expanding with intravenous fluids. Eyes full of sorrow and desperation, she asked me to take her home, far from the intensive care unit.
“I want to go home,” she stated. Her eyes looked into mine. I imagined tiny striped and solid pool balls in her mouth. Yeah. I smoked some extremely potent weed on the ride down from Athens, GA to Savannah. I shook the hallucination off.

I held her bony, frail hand, returned her look, and responded, “I can’t, Ma. This is the best place for you.”

That was not the answer she wanted to hear. Perhaps, she thought I hadn’t heard her the first time. Perhaps, she was expecting me to be the strong one, and take charge as I had many times in the past when she had been able to rely on me.

“I want to go home. Please. Take me home.” It was more urgent this time. A few of the balls fell out of her mouth and shattered on the floor. Tiny, white, thin skeletons laid among the remains.

 “Ma, I wish I could, but I can’t. They can take better care of you here. Now eat something. Please ma, you’ve got to keep up your strength, so you can fight this thing and get better. Drink this juice. It will help you get stronger.” I placed the juice up close to her lips. She forced herself to take a few sips. I knew that it was not for her benefit, but for mine.

“Please. Please, take me home.” She had tears in her eyes now, and pleaded through them. My hand was in hers, and I knew that if she had more strength, she would have pulled me closer to her by them. It wasn’t happening, but I felt that pull anyway. I knew I couldn’t take her away. I had no power in this situation. My stepfather had all the control, and was calling the shots (which in my mind were bad ones). At that time, I loathed myself for being weak. I told myself, “You’re weak.” And after she died, I blamed myself. I was weak. 

That evening, when to hospital rooms were dark, and most of them quiet, I laid on a cot next to my mother's bed listening to her breathing. I don't remember sleeping, but do listening. Her breathing became low moans like the kind you have when you dream someone is chasing you, and about to catch you, and you're trying to scream but it comes out like muffled moans. I climbed into her bed, put my arms around her, stroked and rocked her, and said "I love you." This was what she needed. What she didn't get from her husband. It was the exact opposite of what he offered her as she slipped away, everyday . . . a little . . . death. It was what she needed, and I gave it to her. 

That morning, I left town. I returned to my home about four hours away from the hospital. She told me she wanted to leave. I believed her, but could not face that she was dying, and that I couldn’t even grant her last urgent wish. I felt that I deserted her. She deserted me a few hours after I left. I got the call only minutes after I returned home. She checked out on her own.

Less than an hour after I returned home, the phone rang with news of her death. Three voices on the telephone, my sisters and my brother, spoke to me. “She’s dead,” said a voice. Was anyone crying? “She died not too long after you left,” said another.

I dialed my best friend. It was time for her to take charge, and she was definitive: “I’ll be right over.” Company and comfort were on the way. I rolled a joint and smoked it—a familiar, unconscious pattern to help distance reality. I shed my clothing—anesthetized—and stepped into the bathtub. I stood washed away by tears underneath the shower head. They kept flowing. They soaked my body. They went down the drain.

copyright © 2016 Valerie Michele Oliver

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The Creativity & Spirituality Magazine: March 27, 2016 (Published Weekly)

TOP STORIES

1. How To Inject Creativity Into Your Social Media Strategy
"Recruiters are having to behave more and more like marketers these days,and with digital marketing becoming ever more visual how can they ensure that they stay ahead of the trend? I've had a chat . . ." (Read More)

2. The 5 Most Dangerous Creativity Killers

3. Feeling Like Nothing Is Happening? Perhaps Spiritual Timing Is Off

4. 9 Ways Senior Leaders Sabotage Innovation (Creative Leadership)

5. Sacred Geometry Symbols Part of Top 4 Creative Trends

6. 9 Ways To Become More Creative In The Next 10 Minutes

7. Americans Skeptical of God But Think Heaven Is Real, Somehow

Plus Much More Content!

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What's Up, Twelve?: Twelveness by Eleanora Amendolara (Guest Blogger)

My relationship with Eleanora Amendolara and "twelveness" began in the early 2000's when she introduced me to the Chumpi stone workshops she offered at her business: Sacred Center for the Healing Arts. I had been mentored by Bisun Ilau, the Medicine Man of the Turtle clan in Northern, NJ, and was guided to seek a woman from whom to expand my journey with spirituality in practical ways. Somehow, I found her website on the Internet. The powerful design captured me first, and after I read the content, I decided to contact her. She invited me to visit with her, and I remember taking a gift to offer because it felt like the right thing to do--as respect and honor for her gifts. At the end of our time together that day, she agreed to become my mentor.

One of my most powerful experiences using 12 Chumpis was helping a woman to heal her depression. I used them in various sessions (along with energy techniques, plus both our spirituality) that changed my client's life (personal and professional). Read Dona Dec's testimonial.

Our relationship has been so FULL of adventures and stories, including her saving my life on a journey in Cusco, Peru (an amazing experience I will share in some form one day); graduating from the Mystery School at Sacred Center for the Healing Arts (as a certified CHILL practitioner); co-authoring her first book (Standing Naked In Rose Petals), a healer's memoir in a unique book format, and so much more. Of course I would invite her to be a guest blogger.

Here, Eleanora shares excerpts from her most recent book that invites us all into a relationship with the mystical and practical 12 . . . so without further ado, here's Eleanora's contribution to the question for November: What's Up, Twelve?

What's Up, Twelve: Twelveness
by Eleanora Amendolara (Sacred Center for the Healing Arts)

Excerpts from CHUMPI ILLUMINATION: Gateways to Healing and Transformation

Discover More (Click)

Twelveness . . . 

I am not the only one who has been inspired by this mystical number . . . The number twelve permeates our universe. It always has.
 

Think of the 12 months, 12 zodiac signs, 12 apostles, 12 subatomic particles and even a dozen eggs. You may also have heard of the more esoteric expressions of the number twelve. There are stories about how the 12 gods or master scientists seeded the earth with life.

So, we can say that the twelve divine forces that influence our reality are fundamental to the fabric of the universe and through these forces we create, sustain and transform the patterns of our consciousness.

There are 12 majestic mountains that surround and cradle Cuzco, the sacred center capitol of the Andes. Twelve chumpi stones represent each mountain. In our work with these stones, we can begin to heal and transform the polarizing conflicts that tend to define our present lives.

More about the Chumpis

Learn How Chumpi Stones Are Made (click)

Artist Betty Kispet Kilka demonstrates how she handcrafts Chumpi Stones at her gallery in Cusco, Peru. She also explains the origins and purpose of these ancient Andean healing stones.

More from Eleanora in an Interview

The Greater Reality: CHILL Interview

The live broadcast had over 200 live listeners, and this podcast recording of the live event attracted close to 4,000 listeners during the first week of airing.

In the Greater Reality, healing doesn’t mean fixing ourselves. It does mean embracing a new relationship with duality, plus uncovering ourselves and emerging while in an expanded space. The key is to open the door and discover the more! Join Eleanora and host, Valerie Michele at The Healing Artist Studio Internet radio channel. 



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Magical Music Moments: Nataly Dawn & Dawn Kallevig (Her Mom) Singing "Wild Horses"

Credit: FanPop.com

Simply magical. Love these tears in my eyes. It's like I'm hearing it for the first time. I'm so grateful for Nataly Dawn posting this video of her and your mom singing together. The ties that bind and endure. Dedicating this to Lisa Renee Andrews (my former business manager & friend who was murdered last year after Thanksgiving, and whose birthday is today).

Wild Horses - The Rolling Stones - Nataly Dawn & mom (Click Link)
In case you were wondering where I learned everything I know. My mom and I did this piano vocal arrangement of Wild Horses. She's an incredible pianist, arranger and vocalist (and mom). When I was growing up we would sit at the piano and do this all the time. It's because of her that music is such a huge part of my life.To support my music: http://www.patreon.com/natalydawnWild Horses - by The Rolling Stones - performed by Nataly Dawn and Dawn Kallevig
Posted by Nataly Dawn on Thursday, November 5, 2015

Nataly Dawn uploaded a new video: November 5 at 7:51pm ·
In case you were wondering where I learned everything I know. My mom and I did this piano vocal arrangement of Wild Horses. She's an incredible pianist, arranger and vocalist (and mom). When I was growing up we would sit at the piano and do this all the time. It's because of her that music is such a huge part of my life.

To support my music: http://www.patreon.com/natalydawn
Wild Horses - by The Rolling Stones - performed by Nataly Dawn and Dawn Kallevig

Support Nataly and her music!

UPDATE: What's Up, Twelve?

Chumpi Stones from Peru

The original date on which I published this post was October 19th. I couldn't stop thinking about the number 12 and various connections to it (12 Disciples, 12 Chumpis, 12 Seeds of Faith, 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, 12 Concepts, 12 Ideals, 12 Star Sigils, Angel Number 12, 12 __________ (fill in the blank). Usually, when something keeps entering my consciousness and my senses begin to become flooded with something, I know I must pay attention. My personal understanding is that the Creator (my Greater Reality) is trying to get through to me, and wants me to pray, meditate, contemplate, and perhaps DO something concerning: What's Up, Twelve? Also, I had a strong sense to invite people in my network to be a part of whatever this was becoming. 

This all led to inviting friends by text, email, and Facebook to be guest bloggers here for the month of November. I am connected to many gifted and talented people who could easily share their thoughts, experiences, stories, and creations about 12, but most are quite busy with full work schedules, don't see how this fits into what they are doing, and November was so very close. I'm happy to say that a few of them will be guest bloggers this month about the 12 (or something entirely different they want share with you and me). They are in the process of planning what they want to write. Me too! I'm not certain what I will be writing, photographing, singing, drawing, or videotaping.

Blog posts are scheduled to be made on Mondays and Fridays this month. 

A few stats for ya . . .

- Pageviews last month: 860+

- Pageviews by country (Top 5):

1) USA

2) Russia

3) Germany

4) Slovakia

5) France

While in the process of inviting people, a question came up about what I do: what is The Healing Artist Studio Project? Are you a therapist or a practitioner? In what modalities do you work? Good questions. I've been grappling with it for years now, and at this point in time, I do have a response for them, you, and me (Stayed tuned during November for a post titled: The Healing Artist Studio Project: It's What?).

Who are you? Well, I don't know who you all are but I do know in what countries most of you reside. Recently, I learned that most of you who visited this blog last month are from the USA and Russia (the Top Two countries) followed by 3) Germany, 4) Slovakia and 5) Portugal.

Welcome!

In the words of the child character, Tiny Tim, in the story A Christmas Carol written by Mr. Charles Dickens . . . "God bless us, Everyone."

Rave Reviews for Healing & the Arts (Communications, Media & Visual)

HERE WE GO . . . 
 

"The pleasure has been ours . . . I was singing your praises last night while showing off the website and clicked on your site to show people who you are . . . I am very happy!"

-- Sharron Miller, Executive and Artistic Director, Sharron Miller's Academy for the Performing Arts

"Val, thanks so much--what a wonderful job."

-- Brian Burke, Owner, Downing Film Center

 "...the interview with Luciana Souza was incredible. I loved the dialogue on parenting, grief, spiritual practices, music..."
-- Claire Milam, Spiritual Coach

"Fantastic job."
-- Barbara Sobel, Sobel Promotions

"Beautiful music, wonderful conversation, all around inspiring and energizing program. Thank you!"
-- JD Flaten, Publicist, Media Owls

"Thank you!!! I had a great time being on your show!!! -- Georgie Porgie, A Billboard Magazine Top 10 Dance/Club Artist of the Decade (Listen to Interview)

"You have been doing an amazing job with your interviews/shows. I'm so impressed with what you've done."
-- Paddy Noonan, Founding Partner & Musician, IMRadio

“Your organization of materials, attention to detail and intelligent approach is unique, refreshing and MUCH appreciated. It makes all the difference!”
-- Don Devine, President, Devine Design

"Wow!" Val. The radio show was so amazing! Thanks so much!
-- Tonya Marie Faris, Songwriter, song featured as a healing dedication on 05/30/10

- "Excellent and informative interviews. I enjoyed the show very much. Joel Juan Qui is a beautiful expression of healing through his education and music. Val and Barry, great show!
-- Daniel Zazueta

 

"Val, thank you for posting the great [audio] interview with Linda and Jacqui at our show opening . . . I'm glad your interview got into some of the more contemplative and spiritual aspects of why we do what we do."

-- Karl Leitzel, "Far & Near Horizons" Group Exhibition World Tour from the International Plein Air Painters (IPAP) and Landscape Artists International (LAI), Founder of LAI

"I was glad to meet you at Musikfest, and later, thrilled with the wonderful job you did. You are an excellent writer, photographer, and interviewer all rolled into one: quite a combination."

-- Ann Whipple, Publicist, Musikfest

 

"Thank you for your great interview. You did a great job." @ The 110th Anniversary of Downing Park

-- Jean McGrane, City Manager of the City of Newburgh, NY

"Thank you so much for all the space and time you took with the article. The interview is great and Mystique did a great job with the photos. Can't thank you enough. You should also know that several people have already phoned me to say they read and enjoyed the article."

-- Mary Ann G. Neuman, Photographer, "Somebody's Sister" Series

  "Your new Web site looks and FEELS great . . . open, inviting and very informative."

-- Eleanora Amendolara, Sacred Center

"Wow, the interview went really well. I enjoyed hearing the artists responses, and found out a little bit more about each artist I had not know before. Thank you for all your support!"

-- Virginia Walsh, Director, Ann Street Gallery

"I'm finally home and have been meaning to call and THANK YOU for the wonderful feature that you did on me."

-- Judi Silvano, Jazz Vocalist/Composer/Producer/Educator

"You are (as they say): "No joke". I thank you for lending your genius to the mass of positive good going on in the city of Newburgh right now. The article helped to give wonderful insight into who I am as a candidate for city council."

-- Marge Bell, Owner, Newburgh Artisans

"What a treat to have you with us and conduct such a powerful interview. Thank you for posting the live interview! I've added it to my blog so others can listen and find your site . . . What a wonderful job you do."

-- Linda Richichi, Tour Director, "Far & Near Horizons" Group Exhibition World Tour and Plein Air Painter

"I just wanted to say thank you ever so much for the fabulous job on the article! It was an absolute pleasure to see such a great spread and the company so well represented. I appreciate your efforts and hard work!"

-- Stacey Hawkins, President and CEO, Time Savor Gourmet, LLC

"You need to clone yourself -- doing a great job covering so many events and really focusing on the personalities behind them!"

-- C. Kippy Boyle, Divisional Manager, San Francisco International Gift Fair

“You have an extraordinary company! The level of work you do is very, very high---"over my head" for design work, innovation & concepts, etc.-- a very different area of our industry than I'm in! But you truly have a great and exciting company!”

-- Marc Frankel, President, Hudson Valley Mac