Learning is fun!!! (Well, sometimes…)

From the moment I met Sally, Dick, and Jane, I’ve loved learning! Well, consciously. I suspect I already loved it, at least by the time I was learning to talk.

Sometimes, though, learning is less fun. We seem to be having one of those times in history, just now. For example… MS NOW ran a piece today, filmed at a food pantry in Minnesota, which said, basically, that people are hungry but too afraid for their safety to come get food.

I was horrified! You see, once upon a time, I was one of those people who was hungry. Young, single mom & nursing student, I needed help from Food Stamps to feed my pre-school son. I also needed student loans, scholarships, and HUD housing help. It was really hard. And, we made it.

Now, though, we have a whole lot of people in our country who are terrified. Not just that they won’t “make it,” but that they may not live through it.

Blessedly, I am still learning. In fact, I learned a new thing today. A whole new perspective. Well, consciously! First a bit of context… I’m taking a new virtual class that has to do with neurology and bodies and the whole eco-system of the planet.

We began with movement. Gulp! (Yes… this has not been my favorite thing for quite some time.) Blessedly, our leader was wise and kind and gentle.

The story is too long to share here. Let’s jump to the punch line… the part where the voice in my head claimed:

My body is calling me into new healing… new learning… new relationship… and change involves motion!

I suspect you’ll understand that realizing that was a whole lot more fun than flipping on the news afterward!

Let’s just say that the lunacy goes on.

The question is how we – you & I – get clear enough to claim what we love. What we believe in. What heals the world.

And we’ve never been “here” before. Well, most of us. And we have some learning to do. I have 3 immediate ideas… which may remind some of you of hurricane preparedness.

Non-perishable food & clean water. Back up energy. Determination to help. (Winter weather is headed our way!)

The fourth, big picture idea is HOPE… DREAMS! Kind of like learning to paint!

So why did I pay attention in my class about movement??? Because I have things to do. Things that matter to me and to the world my grandteens will inherit! Things I, frankly, didn’t imagine needing to know!

For now, though, we’re giving a deep freezer we no longer need to a family of folks who do. (And, yes… it also means more space!)

ps… if you have big questions, too… if you hear the sound of the drum… let’s talk! I have space for 2 new 1:1 dreamer/clients looking for some new tools and guidance along the way. Click here and the calendar elves will hook you up with 45 minutes, on me, to explore possible roads ahead!

Old tune… new ears!

I didn’t grow up with this one in my head. Not exactly top of the hymn list in mid-west Presbyterian churches or very Catholic neighborhoods, back in the early 1960’s.

In fact, I probably learned it in my summer camp years from Joan Baez, who might possibly have sung it for Dr. King. And, yes… that’s no doubt why it’s rumbling around my head just now. It’s called, Just a Closer Walk With Thee.

Then, there’s the news. The seemingly endless work still to be done. And, yes, it’s true…

I am tired. I am weak. I am worn…

Blessedly, there are more things which are true, as well. One of those is this…

I am determined!

Another is that…

I can’t do it all alone!

Neither, by the way, can any of us! Which is, no doubt, why the song begs…

…take my hand.

So, I let my very cranky neck choose a new pillow. The cover is in the washer as I type. It’s going to flunk all the Mom rules and nursing school rules for the right way to make a bed and I’m totally okay with that because, if I don’t take care of me, mattering is even harder!

I also had a BIG conversation about my next book and some ways to get the already-books out in the world, doing more good. (Prayers and good juju much appreciated!!)

Here’s the really cool thing, though…

The world needs what you have to share, too! The stuff that lives in the secret box labeled What you are called to do!

Paint. Write. Teach. Adopt abandoned pets. Sing. Feed people. Catch babies. Celebrate weddings. Give blankets to the local shelter. Preach. Vote… you hear me. And I want to hear you! Personally, my medicine basket is all a tingle over some about-to-begin learning in the land of Eco-Somatics and trauma release and regenerative wisdom!

In this moment, I’m looking for two brave souls ready to take a chance on claiming their own magic and putting it to work in the world. You see, that’s my magic! Naming visions and claiming next right things on the road from here to the place where we feel called. (And, frankly, “here” could use a whole lot of work just now!) So, if you’re feeling your special sign of ready – or even intrigued – let’s talk! Just click and ask the calendar elves to hook us up so we can chat. ​ No pressure. No expecting or directing. Just somebody to walk with you, with lots of possibilities and tools for your medicine basket.

And, I really only have space for 2 people!!! Short term. Manageable. Personalized. You’ll know if it’s you! Here’s a timely bit of music for musing…

ps… the first known recording of Just A Closer Walk was made by the Selah Jubilee Singers in 1941. Selah is a Hebrew word which implies intentional pauses – or lifting up – for mindfulness, praise, meditation, and connecting with faith or source!

Amen. Amen. Selah.

When hiding doesn’t work…

Yes, hiding is totally tempting. In fact, I’ve tried it, too. There is no lack of things in our world that sane, compassionate people would love to ignore. People like us!

Sadly, it doesn’t really help!

Oh, a nap is good. Another romp through the land of Princess Diaries, even. (Try it!) Eventually, though, those of us who want our Littles to have a world to inherit have to make our way back to the actual world. Here’s a quote that helps me:

Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.

-James Baldwin

I’ve been experimenting with a way to make going forward, despite current events, feel a bit more encouraging than traumatic. And, yes… creating is involved!

One of my IC® sisters, Amber Kuileimailani Bonnici, led a workshop for the New Year with a way to do just that. I’ve done it before, and enjoyed it. I’ve taught it. Sometimes, though, context does, indeed, shift things and this was one of those times for me.

This particular adventure has to do with folding heavy watercolor paper into an accordian-like book and, for me at least, imagining old things in new ways.

I suspect everyone who tries this experiences it differently. In my mind, it’s a lot like quilting. The scrappy kind. Bits of old treasures and new hopes brought into a relationship intended to create a path forward.

My first challenge, in this moment, was folding the paper. The second was sending the inherited perfectionist who still lurks within me on a play date, elsewhere! (Waiting for something that could be perfect, in the context of this moment, feels a whole lot like giving up!)

I began, as you probably guessed, with a bit of practice in the art of book illumination. (It’s big fun!) And, yes… the Winged Eye Wisdom reference is utterly intentional!

Then, I dreamed a map. A map of next right things!

There is, indeed, more to go. More dreaming. More claiming. The claiming part feels really important just now! And, I’ve decided not to force it faster than I’m ready. You see, I LOVE that there’s more!

ps… If you could actually read the page with the orange writing, way down near the bottom, you might notice a quote from Leo McGarry on The West Wing. “I’ve been down here before, and I know the way out!” Stay tuned… I have, and I do!

pps… now would be a great time to engage the pop-up thingy at the beginning and sign up for the mailing list. Big things, soon!!!

’twas the night before 2026

…and all through the house, the people were waiting for news and pondering choices! You know…

If this, then ________________…

If that, then ________________…

And, yes, the multitude of elipses are this writer’s way of expressing, “What next?”

The challenge, of course, is that we don’t know, even when we think we do! And, it’s hard!

There are, however, some things we CAN know. Some things we CAN choose. And, yes… I like those! So, I chose a card! One of Grammy’s MetaMod Wisdom Cards, to be exact. Sometimes I just mix all of them together in a big heap, close my eyes, and pull one.

In this moment, though, I needed to narrow things down a bit. That meant the category known as Meta-what??? These have to do with big questions on the road to the place where you feel called. And, you know what? I got a very good fit for this moment! Here it is:

And, yes… a Tardis, like the one you see, above, is on the front. The magical door that opens to a whole new world! (It helps to love a sci-fi guy!)

So… time for meddlin’!

What could YOU set free???

Literal objects. Limiting beliefs. We always/We never…

Personally, I’m setting It’s too complicated free, and claiming Let’s see what happens, instead! Chances are, as the old story goes, I’ll learn something and you know how I love that!

And, there’s a bunch of stuff in my closet that’s eagerly awaiting an excursion to a local Clothes Closet!

Here’s the bottom line, though… what I’m really setting free is…

ME

And, no, I’m not at all sure what that will look like. I just know that it’s time! Me, and the Fire Horse who brings intense energy, innovation, and bold action to this year, now. I’ll figure the rest of it out!

ps… start your New Year with much love and a great new tool! Order 2 sets of MetaMod Wisdom Cards, shipped to the same address, and save 20%. Offer limited to in-stock supply. Just click here and the elves will do the magic! And wander… there’s lots of inspiring stuff!

Of mixed traditions and hopeful intentions!

Greetings, this fourth day of Christmas, the feast day of Holy Innocents. And, this third day of Kwanzaa. (I’m pretty sure!) And, Tevet 8 in the Jewish calendar, which marks the completion of the Septuagint (an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Torah) making the text more accessible, while also more susceptible to misinterpretation and influence.

Please hear me say that I’m no expert and we really didn’t cover all this in Nursing School or Seminary – though some of that is changing these days!

The bottom line is that our ancient stories and traditions mean different things to different people and that fact lies somewhere between terrifying and infuriating for those who want to choose one meaning for everyone.

We were hugely blessed with a visit from our kids. We put gifts in stockings hand-knitted by several generations and hung ornaments from Baby’s first Christmas to Menorahs.

We painted and baked and ate and told stories. We proof read school assignments and (some of us) worked at on-line scuba training. There was also furniture moving involved! Well, nesting, really. Places supportive of all the creating that goes on around here.

On Friday evening, I had a big ah-hah! I was feeling both inspired and determined by all the enthusiasm and progress around me. (Enthusiasm, by the way, brings a sense of being inspired by the Divine!)

I am declaring the time from now until mid-April to be MY intentional season for magical healing choices!

What might you choose for such an intentional season??? Leave me a comment, below, or email me at suesvoice@gmail.com I’d love to hear!

ps… I suspect Radical Good Trouble will be involved!

pps… prayers, please, for our family as doctors do doctor things on Monday. I’m grateful!!!

She Takes Her Place Among the Matriarchs…

You know how, sometimes, things that were familiar in the past seem to carry new meaning when the context changes???

This is just such a thing. My #Insight painting from 2021. And, yes, she appeared, in a dream early this morning, ready to meddle again!

#Insight is one of those painting adventures that’s supposed to mess with your mind! (In a good way!!!) Different strokes and shapes and positions. Symbols everywhere. A way to externalize and claim some of what matters on the road we call life. And, in my case, lots of prayer dots!

Turns out that hearing them in a dream can be just as influential as creating them in the first place!

I want to say this next bit as gently as possible… a bit of intentional vagueness, if you will…

There’s a whole lot of wild stuff going on in this world… in this moment… and it’s pretty much bound to shift some of our internal notions of always and never! And that, dear heart, takes some adapting to. Preferably of the conscious choice sort, rather than the frantic, reactive sort.

Part of my deeply personal adapting is practicing for my upcoming Feminine Frequency offering on December 21. If you’ve been hanging out a while you’ve probably heard me mention that there were some things we didn’t cover in nursing school or seminary. Solstice was, indeed, one of those things!

A literal – and symbolic – turning from dark to light. From death to rebirth, renewal, and hope. And I’m claiming it!!!

In fact, I’m calling you to join me! Let’s turn fear into courage, scraps into wonder, and calling into a path you can actually walk!

And, yes… I have a medicine basket overflowing with tools to do just that! Here’s the thing, though – I can’t do it for you. YOU have to show up for yourself. And for the world. And, yes… it can feel scary to claim our truth!

That’s why I put some blank cards in Grammy’s MetaMod Wisdom Cards! They look like this:

And, yes, the flip side is intentional space for you to claim you! In fact, we’ll make a draft of your first card in our Feminine Frequency circle! You’ll want a cuppa, and something to write on and with.

Where do you long to take YOUR place???

YOUR first Next Right Thing is to click here! Go ask to join the Facebook Group, which might take a day or two. And mark your calendar! Sunday, December 21 at 4:40pm ET. Think of it as claiming light, wherever you might be. And carrying the light forward!

We’ve got this!!! And, it’s free!!!

Huge thanks… and a crazy-true story!

First, though, a confession! When I woke up yesterday morning, I reached for my phone beside the bed to check the time and see what disruptive things my alarm might be plotting. And – as you may have guessed – the phone elves were NOT in a helpful mood!

Updates. Locks. Codes. Everything looking different. (I know some of you have had similar adventures, lately.) I was NOT amused. You see, much of my brain works on the “what finger do I move to make this happen” model of reality, and the way we’ve always done it wasn’t working!

After a bit of help from the Legendary Husband, I at least got the alarm turned off and a cup of tea made. (And, yes… I’m officially feeling Crone-like!) Next on the list is eliminating the new little noise it makes when I get a text!

There is, of course, more stuff going on in our house, much of it health-related.

My alter-ego, Glinda Good Trouble is on it! While she hasn’t yet pulled off any notable, literal, physical health-magic, she’s all over the perspective thing and she’s thrilled with her very own Medicine Basket! So, with a cuppa for each of us, we sat down for a chat. I was all ears as she began…

You’ve been here before… well, not exactly HERE, but very hard places that mattered a lot. And you made things better!

(In case you’re new around here, she was right!) Then, she started bossing me around! Art notebook, with the heavy paper. Best fine line markers. And (duh!) an #inquiry!

What does that #Magic #Filters thing have to do with what you’re feeling and the next right thing???

I can’t tell you the whole story just now, because it isn’t all my story. I can give you a glimpse:

Two words I haven’t traditionally stored in the same box!!! And, yes, they opened the door to about six next right things and, quite probably, a way better day.

Now, it’s time for the exciting part! Glinda Good Trouble and I will be speaking – along with a whole lot of really cool friends – during the Feminine Frequency Festival and you’re invited! Step one is to join the Facebook group so you’ll have access to all the info and the magic. Just click here!!! I really, really hope you will! And you can do that today. Now, even! (I’m speaking on day one… 12/21/25!)

When you get right down to it, I suspect we could all use a whole lot of good trouble in this moment! Especially the kind that actually works!!!

ps… want to be a bit ahead of the class??? Check out Grammy’s MetaMod Wisdom Cards, before they’re all gone! Put 2 sets in your basket and the obliging elves will joyfully give you 20% off!

pps… curious about some of the back-story? Wander about on the front page and click things!