A New Beginning!

I know you will find this surprising, but once again I am starting over. Imagine that, a Phoenix with a fresh start!
It has been a long year and I am truly ready for some new mojo. There has been much transition, some good, some great, some difficult. Last year at this time I was just coming out of my winter funk and getting ready to perform a wedding. To be honest, I don't even remember what I did last memorial day weekend. Earlier that month I went on a trip with my ex-boyfriend to celebrate our then non-existent anniversary. It was a valiant attempt at camaraderie that turned into something out of deliverance.
He wanted to stay at a B&B. We picked a place near the Katy Trail so we could ride our bikes. When we got there, it was quaint, lots of stone and windows. Bird feeders outside the kitchen revealed a variety of birds I never see in the city. We took our bikes out, but the trail was flooded over. Hmmm... no riding to be done. We went to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. Le Bourgeois Winery serves wonderful food. Full with great food we came back to the B&B ready to hop into the hot tub. Walking in the front door I am blasted but nothing other than NASCAR. Giant screen and volume all the way up. Lo and behold our host is drunk. We headed out to the hot tub to avoid the race and she comes out to sit on the side of the tub and regale us with her stories of her favorite drivers.
Thankfully I was there with someone I had no desire to fool around with, but imagine if I had? Eventually I resigned myself to bed. In the morning I was the first to rise. (Truly no surprise.) I went in the kitchen and made myself coffee, sat down and started bird watching. It was the best part of the trip. Soon enough everyone was up and eating breakfast. She and my ex kept talking about these eagles that were nesting down the road. He wanted to go and I was game. Somehow I got voted to be the one to drive her truck!? What? Ok... We get a hundred yards down the road and she insists that I stop at the little general store so she can get something for her "headache from sleeping wrong." After 5 minutes she emerges with.... wait for it... a case of beer! I suppose that will fix it. The trip only improved from there. How could it not?
In the year since then so much has transpired. My ex moved out after living as roommates for a year. (It taught me a lot about when I detach from someone's behavior what miracles can happen.)
My brother was diagnosed with colon cancer. Has undergone arduous chemo. radiation and surgery. He is still in school full time. He is a hero.
I took up hoop dancing. It brings so much joy to my spirit. I look forward to it every chance I get.
I made a trip to Colorado by myself for the first time in over a decade. I met up with my girlfriend that I have known since I was 4. We had a great retreat in Grand Lake and we laughed non-stop. It truly revived my spirit.
I attended a "workshop" called Sacred Space, Urban Grace that brought me to Peruvian Shamanism. I have always been a spiritual woman, but this is a whole new level of discipline. I am now in the midst of a 2 year apprenticeship in the Pachakuti Mesa Tradition. It is changing my at a core level. I am sure you will here about it frequently here.
I stayed home by myself for Christmas. It was an interesting experience. I had a cold, and couldn't be around my brother, then a blizzard blew in anyway. It was a mixed blessing. I will share some of my insights another time.
I recently started dating a man who is slowly but surely winning my heart over. He has treated me better than any other man in my life. He is a good man with a true heart. He was raised in the south and I think that makes a difference in how he sees me. It also seems to have affected his political judgment. Needless to say we have very different political views. I would not have imagined myself dating a conservative, butt we are able to laugh at our differences. I am even able to laugh at myself when I see my "passion" getting in the way of equanimity. That's a big one for me.
And now tonight I stand on the verge of another mew beginning, a new lifetime within a lifetime. I am a fortunate woman.
Tomorrow morning I move into my new home. I am leaving this house that I moved into with such great love and aspiration to a new vision of what those aspirations and dreams will be in my life. It is exciting and scary all at once. I love my new home, and it is much smaller than where I was. I love being back in my old neighborhood. I will be living just down the street from my hair dresser and my nail tech. Looks like I will be driving even less!
My good-bye is bittersweet. I haven't loved this home for some time, but I am leaving a little bit of me behind. The woman who originally owned this house planted many beautiful flowers that continue to bloom long after she has passed. I like the comfort of feeling her love. The picture at the top is my backyard last year. It is one of my favorite pictures ever. As you can see it is blazing with spirit. I pray I take her flower medicine with me as I set out on my new journey.
For all of these things and this beautiful journey I call my life I am grateful.

I am just about to catch fire once again. If you watch closely you'll see the magic happen...
I will see you on the other side.

Mucho Munay!