We are starting the New Year with some powerful astrological configurations.  I have a background in astrology, but am not a practicing astrologer.  I am a symbolist working from the level of vibration and resonance.  However, having a sun in Capricorn makes it hard to miss all the energies coming this way in that sign. 

Today heralds the New Year with a Lunar eclipse (Moon in Cancer opposite Sun in Capricorn, both squaring Saturn for good measure).  Looking at this configuration from my perspective reveals a beautiful isosceles triangle with a baseline of the parenting axis (Cancer – Capricorn and the Moon – Sun or the mother – father archetypes).  The peak of the triangle is anchored in the Saturnian realm of our perception of reality, which leads us to ask a serious question.  Are we parenting ourselves?  Are we truly integrating the mother/father axis and embracing ourselves and our view of others with a connected wholeness?  Are we releasing old stereotypes?  Are we able to see with the large golden eyes of a 10 foot tall, blue ‘Avatar’?  By the way, I recommend that movie from the depths of my being!

Let’s talk a bit more about this powerful triangle which is introducing our New Year, 2010, a ’3′ year!  A triangle is the first form possible in geometry and embodies the creative principle.  So the question now becomes:  are we living our lives from a place of wholeness, immersed in the creativity of doing what we love and knowing that our passion is the key to universal resonance?  A powerful thought for a powerful New Year!  Speaking for myself, I say ‘YES’!  And I wish you a spiraling Symbala and Happy New Year!

In Loving Resonance,

Lahrinda

Busy season for sharing warmth with friends and family.  I shared Thanksgiving with my daughter and her husband.  That is not so unusual, but what was unusual was what we did before the big feast.

They had purchased 3 toy boats, 3 action figures, 3 rubber frogs and 3 rubber ducks and let it be known that we were going to have races! 

The night before the race we all decorated our boats with the stickers purchased for that purpose.  We also placed the action figures in the boats, which was a challenge since they weren’t made for that.  The purple boat was mine, the blue was Melea’s and the red belonged to Michael.

Boat Show

The next day after the turkey was in the oven we took our boats down to the course which Michael had laid out.  They have a seasonal slough that runs under their long and winding driveway.  He had laid boards over the creek so we could stand on them together and launch at the same time.  He also had a starting bar under the water and one at the finish, too.  He even had a stop-watch for time trials!  I couldn’t believe how much thought, effort and imagination they had put into it.  I couldn’t take a picture of all of us launching our boats at the same time so here I am just after launching my boat for the time trials.

Lahrinda Launches her Boat

Here come the boats, racing to the finish with Michael and Melea waiting and Yogi watching over them on the left.

Finish Line

 

We also raced the frogs and the little Christmas decorated rubber ducks.  We had some initial difficulties convincing Yogi not to jump in after them!

Canine Spectator 

The whole thing was a riot of fun and laughter.  And later, back in the house full of delightful cooking aromas, I had one more surprise.  Melea and I didn’t know that Michael hid himself in the laundry room and spent more creative time to add to the celebration.  Here’s what he made from materials at hand.  These were mine and that’s Frank in the background.

Time for Awards!

They were only can lids and paper, but I couldn’t have been more pleased when I was presented with my awards, including 2 firsts.  And then it was time for the feast!

The Creativity Turns Yummy!

 All in all, it was one of the most delicious, fun and creative Thanksgivings we had ever shared.  Staying in the present in the creative flow is one of the foundations of my life and it’s so joyful to see those you love doing the same.  Let’s all enjoy the holidays remembering to keep a childlike perspective.

In Loving Warmth and Resonance,

Lahrinda

First of all, when I start to draw a Symbala (any Symbala) I set the stage with the energy of my intention to create a mandala imbued with love and the interconnectedness of all things.  That’s where the power of the Golden Proportion (or PHI) comes in.  I work with that proportion in all my Symbalas.  The golden thread of PHI is a spiral frequency growing infinitely larger and smaller and transcending all dimensions to give coherence and total interconnection to all vibrational realities.
 
So while you are contemplating a Symbala, you are literally training your perceptions to an awareness of simultaneous dimensional reality or being totally in the NOW.
 
There are 3 main ways to work with these tools (and keep in mind these are TOOLS for focusing your attention and intention, the power of creation is within you, not something outside).
 
The first way is through contemplation or meditation, as described above.  When you view a Symbala, try soft-focusing your eyes.  Also, experiment with them in different levels of light and from varying distances and angles.  They are definite shape-shifters which increases your awareness of simultaneous dimensions.
 
The second way is with specific intention for a process, say working with an imbalance in your body or health,  or for someone else (with their permission).  This can be done by placing the Symbala directly on the body or from a distance (energy and intention know no boundaries).  The Symbala Water Imprints, the small size sold in sets of 8, are particularly useful for this type of work because they were published on special paper using special inks so they are waterproof and very flexible.  Regular Symbala prints are more fragile and need to be protected from water, constant direct sunlight and bending.  Remember, they are not magic, they are focusing tools for the magic within.
 
The third way has to do with the energy available through them because of the combined forces of intention, the Golden Proportion, the colors and the symbolic circular symmetry.  Therefore, they can be used in your environment for inspiration and beautification, but remember, they are never passive, they have a frequency impact.
 
I hope this has been helpful for your expanded use and appreciation of your Symbala tools.

In Loving Resonance,  Lahrinda

(This is an excerpt from an email I recently sent in response to some questions about using the Symbalas.  Thought it was worth sharing with you all.)

Recently, my life has been full of change and transformations.  I have been challenged to live my principles time and again.  Each time I do that, scary as it feels, the outcome always feels expanding and in resonance with my essential self.         

I was living in a happy and comfortable environment for over 5 years, not ideal, but very cozy and affordable.  My landlady, Bettie, became a good friend and supporter of my art over the years.  She turned 94 this spring and her health took a turn for the worse not too long after her birthday.

When she didn’t spring back after a few months, her daughter decided it was time to install a fulltime caregiver in my top floor sanctuary and I was given my notice on August 3^rd.  Here was a challenge of the first order!  Bettie’s friendship was irreplaceable, but I had to find a new space for myself, my business and my very large movie collection.  I also loved and had to let go of the neighborhood and my feline friend, Pretty Feet (Bettie’s cat).   Here’s a picture of her in what used to be a favorite spot –  the back of my computer chair!

I was in a grieving process of letting go of so many things, near and dear.  But I also realized I had been given a gift, the gift of change which always makes way for new energies and experiences. 

August became a blur of memories, packing and searching.

However, by asking for what I wanted and working with the Law of Attraction a novel idea came to me – it was finally time to stop renting!  I narrowed my search to affordable mobile homes and within 2 or 3 days had found just what I was looking for.  I knew it was my right place because everything just flowed easily once I made the decision.  My friend, Madeline Gerwick, the ‘Good Timing Guide’ lady, was a help in so many ways, not least in her suggestions for good days and times for closings and signings. 

Friends volunteered for the moving part and I didn’t even have to rent a truck to move to my new home about 10 miles south in SeaTac (south Seattle area near the airport, but amazingly quiet).  It all got done in one day and even before my moving deadline!  It’s older and not fancy, but it’s all mine and I love it!  Here are some pictures of my ‘White Palace’ (thanks, Teresa).

This is my friend, Michael, in the kitchen before I moved and here’s the kitchen after I moved in.

This is the living room window group that looks over a honeysuckle bush frequented by hummingbirds.  When I saw that I really knew I was in my right place.

There were many perks for me personally about my new place.  The joys of my own roomy laundry room, a regular kitchen with a full size refrigerator, stove top and oven, lots of built-in book shelves, plenty of extra storage, a covered carport and mail delivered right to my door!  Ah, it’s the little things that add up to a happy home.

With Loving Resonance,  Lahrinda