magical life

entrance  to wonder

another kind of entrance to wonder

you can find the book here

I love fairies. Our daughter, Annika, loves them even more. When she was a tiny girl, we read all of Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairies books. They are still referenced frequently. Annika's fairy life grows so beautifully from that first gentle flower fairy book and gorgeous artwork: a precious inner garden of fairies, flowers and magic. For years now, Annika has read every fairy book she can get her hands on. She has fairies everywhere in her room.

the dining table - seashells for plates

marsh house interior in the making

marsh dwelling

Lately, she's been building fairy houses all over the yard, in the woods at the base of a towering old maple, in the marsh among the reeds, at the source of a bubbling spring, near the raspberry patch, and who knows where else. Oliver helps and has some gorgeous fairy creations of his own, too. Now Annika is busy writing a novel, the main character is a brave and adventurous fairy, of course. I have no doubt that she will be published, it is an amazing and exciting tale.

stage, created by Ollie

garden house

Have you ever passed a forest and chanced to see that gleaming, glowing space of soft green where fairies absolutely have to live? This has happened to me so many times. Now I am feeling they might really be there, flitting around, another species entirely; some of us connect with them, others just aren't paying attention. It really doesn't matter, it's all so much fun.

dancing ring

boat afloat

intuition

beautiful sunset

by Annika

This week I am having a lot of fun learning to hear and follow my intuition. Our intuition is that little inner voice that we have learned so successfully to ignore and squash because it sometimes tells us to look at things we don't want to see; it sometimes tells us to do things that aren't the easiest and most logical things to do. When we hear it, we generally know it is right, but we often don't want to hear it because it doesn't always fit with the ego's to-do list. Our intuition is a gift from God, it is one way we can receive guidance from the Source of all that is. Though most of us have a sweet little connection to our intuition, we work hard to be very good at setting it aside for what seems more practical, "nicer" and easier, or what feels more socially acceptable. Instead of being taught to listen to our own unique truth, as we grow up, we learn to consider every angle of a decision and think through each little thing and then proceed according to what looks best on paper. We finally get so good at this kind of decision-making that we close and lock the door to intuition, thinking that we know better. Luckily, intuition stays near, waiting patiently for us to ask for help. 

I am officially asking for help. I get centered and ask myself, "What's next? What's highest and best?"--noticing the first little hint that pops into my body, and then promising to do it with total trust and abandon. It's a little scary! But I know absolutely that my deepest soul would never guide me the wrong way. I know this for sure, because I have heard and ignored my own voice so many times. 

Though we often don't see the outcome of intuitive, divinely-guided decisions until far down the road, if ever, our intuition always tells the truth. So far in the last several days (when I've listened to it) my intuition has guided me to have a nice talk with my wonderful grandma, shop at a grocery store I rarely visit, take a nap, create a little artwork, stand on my head (weird, I know), sing, make an unplanned stop to visit a friend for a deep and meaningful conversation, sit quietly alone, and now to write.