“The Load Out”
The ocean waves crashing on the shore, friends & family sharing great stories, laughter & tears echoing in the wind, sweet dogs lounging in the sand , “The Load Out” by Jackson Browne being sung by an amazing musician, a hug & shoulder to cry on from my brother’s dear and long-time friend, expressing my family’s gratitude to his family and expressing my admiration to him for the friendship he and Billy shared & for all of the friends here, some traveling from afar, on this beautiful Sunday evening in October…
We honored, we cried, we laughed and we said our good-byes to an incredible brother, uncle, friend, co-worker, human… Forever in our hearts is where you will be!
But when that last guitar’s been packed away
You know that I still wanna play
So just make sure you got it all set to go
Before you come for my piano…
~Jackson Browne, “The Load Out”
Those Before Us
I often think about the people who were here on this land before us, inhabiting the Arizona desert, calling it home…
When I was young, I visited home construction sites with my dad. On many of these visits we would find American Indian artifacts like pottery pieces, tools and arrowheads. It was always so exciting to find such treasures! I was fascinated with the thought of people living where I lived, long before me…living in such a simple way, off of the land. It was not until adulthood that I really understood the beauty in this way of life.
I think of those before us especially while out on our desert mountain hiking trails. As I pause & be still, I can feel their love, their protection of the land…I can feel the loyalty to their people….their ethical standards. A wave of respect always flows over me.
In the Anishinaabe, Native American culture, a beautiful set of teachings is expressed called, The Seven Grandfather Teachings. These teachings state that “human beings are responsible to act with wisdom, respect, love, honesty, humility, bravery, and truth toward each other and all creation.”
Powerful words to live by…much can be learned from those who came before us, if we simply be still and listen.
xo, Jana
photo credit: photographer unknown, image from Etsy
Summer Wanderings
As summer comes to a close & glimpses of fall appear, I reflect upon these past few months and I am thankful for the journey. I embrace it all: the wonder, the u-turns, the excitement, the steep climbs, the joy, the sadness, the laughter, the tears, the awe, the memories. The beauty in wandering became even more clear to me, as I found myself deeply rooted no matter where I was planted.
During my travels, my senses & soul were ignited by: the stillness of sitting by a river watching as the sun danced upon the water, the picking of a sun-ripened apple from a sturdy apple tree branch, the smell of soup made from fresh greens curling through the air, the witnessing of the unique art forms in nature, the organic gardening in soil as rich as hot chocolate, the dark starry nights exploding with bursts of light, the silence & tranquility standing in a field of pinto bean plants as far as the eye could see, the animals playing & dancing freely, the rainbows magically appearing after a gentle rain, the handsome mountains and pretty white clouds in the distance as if an artist had painted them there….
As I make my way back home, the windows are rolled down…I am belting out my favorite tunes…. breathing in, breathing out, this wandering experience. The interesting people met along the way, some with stories to share, others simply sharing a glance and a smile. The gracious and loving hospitality, warmth, wisdom & hugs from dear friends ….the gratitude overflows! I re-enter now, grateful for what I have experienced, encouraged by what I have learned, and excited for what is yet to come! Summer Wanderings 2022, thank you for the magic!
xo, Jana
Summer Wanderings, 2022
The Gift Of Self-Love
As we experience art forms, our souls become awakened! Stirring the senses by exploring whatever may arise is a gift we give to ourselves… it is about being in the moment which leads to a lovely mellow wandering. It is about being open to new ideas & having fun …exploring without judgement, only grace… it is the art of surprise or most commonly known as, intuitive art.
At first, it may feel a bit like walking barefoot in the desert, heading into a rough unknown. But once the soul is introduced and awakened to the experience, there is a freeing & openness that occurs…just like the desert after a soft summer rain.
It is an honor to assist in this exploration, as I provide the gentle balance of teaching & holding space… allowing curiosity and surprise to take over. There is no right or wrong … what emerges from the heart & soul, out through the hand, is pure perfection.
Uniquely and thoughtful crafted, I offer individual and group sessions for youth & adults ….in a private home, on a mountain, in a garden, under the moon, in a park, at a party, in the desert, under a tree, by the sea…. the possibilities are endless. I look forward to exploring the art of surprise with you! Let’s go wandering, barefoot in the desert…refreshing & revitalizing the soul… a beautiful gift of self love!
With Love & Gratitude,
Jana
A Beautiful Day!
Today, I ventured out to my brother’s favorite Pacific Coast beach spot, Leo Carrillo, in western Malibu. As I sat looking out at the gorgeous sparkling waves crashing upon the rock and rolling on to the shore, I felt as though I had been here before…even before my brother had introduced me to this magical place. And then it came to me, I had, been here before, hundreds of times, only it was in a movie theatre and in front of a tv screen. If you wait for the popcorn to pop you might miss the intro …as the movie, Grease opens with a scene set at Leo Carrillo Beach…the tune, Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing, plays in the background. And so, in awe of it all, today I sat, with love, sadness & peace in my heart, honoring my brother and Olivia, two kind & tender souls that blessed me and countless others with their presence …now flying free! It was a beautiful day!
A Story To Tell
We all have a story to tell, unfolding as we live out our day-to-day. Sharing our own stories and listening to others share theirs…the real, the raw & the fun parts of our lives. And then, when our journey this time around on this earth comes to a close, the stories live on in the memories of our loved ones and get passed along for generations to come. It is an honor to know a life so well that you have special memories to hold on to…a beautiful story to tell!
In loving memory of my brother, Bill (1951 ~ 2022)
The Strawberry Moon
The Strawberry Moon brings an energy that invites us to pursue new horizons and embrace change. It does the soul good to pause and take in this supermoon magical moment in time, connecting us to the beauty that surrounds us from far far away. If you haven’t set your eyes on the Strawberry Moon, June 2022, you still have time this evening to catch a glimpse… it might just take your breath away!
photo credit: Wish
The Beach
In this photo (1966), are a few of my favorite things: summertime, the beach, being barefoot, a sand pail & the color pink! It is that happy and breezy feeling!
Happy, carefree, summer days!
Love, Jana
My Greatest Joy!
The moment I held them in my arms, I felt it … these tiny lives had been entrusted upon me. I gave it my all…granted I didn’t always get it right but I learned & I loved! The greatest joy in my life is having been blessed with the gift of raising two amazing, intelligent, beautiful, strong, kind, fun, wise, talented daughters ….grown now to be beautiful & strong women and the joy continues! I love you my beautiful girls, with all of my heart! xo, Mom
Happy Mother’s Day! With Love!
