Anything Really Is Possible

What is possible? Anything.

Really?

Yes, really!

We can do anything we set our mind and heart to.

Of course, there is that little factor of FEAR to overcome. Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of ridicule, fear of criticism, fear of ... I'm sure you have a armada of words to insert there.

But what do we have to lose, really?

What is our alternative? To let FEAR keep us back? Then we can safely sit where we're at, saying, well, yes, but that's just too scary, so better to do what is "just okay", rather than soul-fulfilling and inspiring and spectacular.

Is this really okay with you? So-so. Safe. Secure.

Bored, stifled, asleep, frustrated, jealous, lethargic...?

No, not really.



The Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura, Golden Transformer, spiraling upward, higher and higher, maybe a little wobble here and there, but self-correcting, not hesitating, not doubtful, soaring higher and higher, transforming all that needs to be transformed.

There are invisible currents, ready to spiral us higher and higher. But it requires Faith and Trust, knowing they are there. Taking those risks anyway!

Transform your fear into action, try it, if something doesn't turn out the way you'd hoped, then there is a lesson to learn, and the reward of knowing that you DID IT ANYWAY! And then you move onto the next challenge. Growing, stretching, pushing beyond what you think is possible. Embracing even more than you could have ever imagined.

And...
...knowing that you are not alone on this journey, there are many of us reaching and stretching and pushing the limits everyday. Being part of a community ~ virtual or otherwise ~ of friends that will say to you, YES, GO FOR IT! or YOU ARE NOT CRAZY for wanting to pursue your dreams. Those are the ones you must seek out. I am one. I am seeking others of like mind.

Let's join together, encouraging each other higher and higher.

Beyond even our WILDEST dreams.

Are you with me?

Tribal Twilight: an Evening of Belly Dance

Hello Friends of Kundalini Belly Dance!

This Friday is the day!!

Tribal Twilight: An Evening of Belly Dance ~ and a Benefit for Khylee!

Clark's Corner Cafe in Ione.
Friday, August 28 from 8-9:30pm

(with an intermission)

This will be our 2nd show at Clark's and will be a special benefit for Khylee Monson and her family. In lieu of a cover charge, donations will go to Khylee and her family. For more information about Khylee see below, and please visit the website www.Just-One-Dollar.com

We'll have dancers from all over the foothills and Sacramento!
Last time we had standing room only, get there early for a seat!

Hope to see you there!

********************************

On June 11, 2009, 4-year-old Khylee Monson of Pioneer was diagnosed with a brain tumor that her doctors say is terminal. We are hoping for a miracle, and Khylee’s family can use all the help they can get! Friends of Khylee and her mom, Jackie Harrison, have formed the fundraising group, For Khlyee’s Sake, and are asking for your donation. All money raised will go to help pay for her medical care. You can donate at any Bank of Amador (Jackson, Pioneer, or Ione) or by going to http://www.just-one-dollar.com/. For tax-deductible donations, please send a check or money order to the Amador Community Foundation.



Tracy Carlton
Kundalini Dance
Belly Dance...Sacred Dance
Classes, Workshops, Performance Troupe

www.kundalinidance.com

209.419-1362

13 Daily Doses of Intention

I find that even though I believe in the idea of being present, of living not only life, but also each moment, with intention, I still get caught up in the "tasks" of daily life and end up going about my day distracted, in a rush, or at the very least, lost in thoughts or worries that have nothing to do with the present moment. Intention gets lost in the dust.

On a typical day, I jump up out of bed before the alarm has even gone off because my four year old is already heading down the stairs and ready for breakfast. Then the morning continues at a less than leisurely pace in order to keep to a school or work schedule. And it can be non-stop from then on for the rest of the day. I'll then find myself with my head on the pillow, ready to sleep at the end of the day, wanting to acknowledge all that I am grateful for that day...but find myself quickly drifting off to sleep before I get past "Thank you for today...".

So I decided to come up with a tool for myself, a tool to help me make Intention a greater part of my daily life. And, not a surprise to anyone that knows me, this tool happens to be a list. I LOVE lists. I am the list queen! I have many things I'd like to accomplish in my life and my many lists help me stay centered and grounded. And though they are lists that have daily tasks, the focus is more on big projects and long-term goals. They do not necessarily address the day to day routines.

So in going about creating my check list, I spent quite a bit of time allowing it to emerge organically, better reflecting who I am over time, rather than jumping into a plan that wasn't truly me. I also have committed it to memory, so that at any given point in the day, I can review it to myself and see how I'm doing that day.

My list gives me focus. It brings the idea of intention into a tangible form ~ not just an idea that sounds good. And just having this tool to reflect on, whether I've adhered to it or not, has made me stop and pause for a moment ~ which really, pausing is the intent! Granted, there are some days when I forget about it entirely, but they are becoming fewer and fewer in number.

Now, this list is for me, and if you like the idea and decide to create one for yourself, make sure it reflects you, not me. After all, you are the one that it’s for ~ make sure it fits your life! And why 13 you may ask? Well, 13 is a sacred number in a lot of cultures, and I strongly resonate with it. But you can use any number you'd like, start with just 1 item if that's all you want to take on at this point. Just be careful to not overwhelm yourself from the get go, you'll just end up tossing it aside in frustration!

There are definitely days when I only get to 5 or 8 items on my list, but I am just glad that I'm doing SOME of them. It's taking the first step that matters, not the destination, right?

So here goes ~ and these are NOT in any order of importance by the way, they are ALL important to me, but it was too hard to draw a circle with all the components in this blog format. If you're more of a visual person, that may be the better way to go than a list anyway!

13 Daily Doses of Intention
1. Give thanks for today and for this life.
2. Give thanks to the four elements (Air, Fire, Water, Earth), because it is with them that I create something new and change the universe for the better each day.
3. Identify one way I will change the universe (ie: myself) for the better.
4. Play with my son.
5. Connect with my husband.
6. Walk or dance (some physical activity each day)
7. Be outdoors.
8. Have alone time.
9. Be quiet, do nothing, breathe. (sometimes I get #7-9 all at the same time!)
10. Identify one thing I will create today. This can be dance, a meal, art, sewing...whatever taps into my creative talents and expresses who I am.
11. Create that something (see #9).
12. Give thanks to someone, acknowledge their gifts and presence in my life.
13. Learn something new.


Reviewing my list each morning (even if that means at 10:00 in the morning), and then again during the day, and finally at night, I am able to stop long enough to insert intention into my day. And the idea really, is to make it a habit. The more I do it, the more it becomes just a part of my day, rather than something I have to “remember” to do. And eventually, the list itself will become obsolete.

But then, that will mean that it’s simply time to create a new list of some kind!

Blessings on the journey!

Indigo

Big Flea Market Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the flea market today!

Thanks to the vendors and all of your fabulous goodies: Ursula, Thalisha & Brandi of Nyx (and Richard too!), Sonya, Lesley, Patti, Kimberly(who we missed today) & Leslie for Sandy. The studio was transformed by all the beautiful items you brought to sell!


Thank you to the many local folks who came to say hi, support the vendors, learn more about belly dance, and are a part of this community! Nice to see so many familiar faces!


Thank you Thalisha and Brandi for the scrumptous blueberry coffee cake, YUM!

For those that couldn't make it, we missed you! Hope to see you at the next one!


Thank you to the local belly dance community! I am so honored to be part of it!

These are the 4 photos I took before my camera stopped working!


Many thanks and blessings, Tracy

PS: Jane! So wonderful to have finally met you ~ thank you for taking the time to stop by! For everyone reading, here's a link to Jane's most wonderful blog: http://medicinetree.wordpress.com/

Belly Dancer's Flea Market!

A first ever Kundalini Belly Dancer's Flea Market!

Join our local dance community!

You can find all sorts of goodies, whether you dance or not!

Hope to see you there!

Tracy