Cyprus by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, Shadowscapes.com, one of the paintings featured in Elanthian Love Songs.

♡ Gems, Gemstone, and Elanthian Love Songs – A Bard’s Tale ♡

Serendipity

Things are going smoothly here save for a few last-minute changes to my poetry book Elanthian Love Songs – a Bard’s Tale.  It is to be my first published book.  The release date is still set for Valentine’s Day (Sunday) on Amazon.  It’s nearly there!  The book is closely tied in with Gems as you will see, below.

My days are more balanced as I work hard. Dreams I’ve had for years are coming to be.  I’ve been getting up with the sun, doing yoga and meditating, then starting my day. I’m off coffee completely and drinking either ginger and lemon tea or peppermint (from fresh-cut herbs) as a morning drink.  At home, we’re putting in a hardwood floor in our living room and hall this week.  We’ve been unloading boxes and boxes of papers and I’ve been organizing filing systems both for our house budget and my own writing projects.  The Hay House video series had some great ideas about that.

Seashore Strolling (or Running)

We’re walking more and as the snow is melted now, we’ll be out daily again to get ready for the 5th Annual Running for Joy 5k/1 mile. I  can’t believe this is the 5th year.  You’re very welcome to join us (no matter where you walk the miles). =) Remote walkers/runners who do either the 5k or 1 mile will receive shiny awards made of 1’s and 0’s too!

Son-shine

My oldest son is staying with us now and has been such an encouragement and good example.  He is learning musical healing techniques, Ayurvedic yoga, herbal healing, and meditation.  I’m learning with him!  It’s been a joy to talk to him every day about everything he’s learned.   I’m stronger and healthier than I’ve been in a long time using his suggestions and especially getting rid of all the toxins in our home.  We eat really clean now, and almost everything is from one-ingredient organic sources.  We rarely eat meat and most of our protein comes from fish and plants.  We recently joined our local, organic whole-foods co-op in Newark which also has a huge selection of fresh-cut herbs.

Sara Michele O’Something-or-other and Shadowscapes

Today I’m putting the final touches on my book and cover. I’m waiting to hear back from my editor on two poems and from my artist friend about the cover design I did.  The cover and every one of the poems feature the beautiful art of Stephanie Pui-Mun Law (Shadowscapes.com).  We purchased limited copyright for Elanthian Love Songs.  

Soon:  Online Gallery Show for Gems

under1000skies is on temporary hiatus until we get more original photo donations.  I’m working on a gallery show and the opening date will be February 29th.

Songs of the Heart

So far I am working with a man in Denver named John who writes poetry.  He is currently unhoused but he is still taking time for creativity. He is working on putting together a two- or three-week series of photos for me and those will be featured next  His friend Nicole (Wild Dream Walks) of Denver has facilitated my introduction to John.  He’s a beautiful soul and very creative.  Nicole also has one person in Denver that is interested in being a volunteer for Gems / Volunteer Biographers and one in San Francisco, so that’s exciting!  We’re also hoping to affiliate soon with a soup kitchen in Philly.

Seeker Finds

My biggest contributor of photos in the past two months was a man who was “homeless” by choice during most of 2015  — my son Benjamin.  He says he prefers the term “nomadic” to “homeless.”  During that year, his life was touched deeply by a spiritual awakening.   He came close to dying twice. In both circumstances, his survival was miraculous.  During this year and his awakening, my son literally did an about-face.  This new direction he walks is filling me with joy — and health! He has been instrumental in helping all of us — my husband Mike, his brother Joe, his Nana (my mom), and many of his friends, too.

Laddership

The Laddership Program by Service Space where I have been one of the co-creators (as our beloved mentor Nipun Mehta calls it) since 2014 showed me that I can be a part of the gift economy and design for generosity, too.  The people I met through the program showed me that I can live my dream within the framework of my principles as they are doing or plan to do.  So, to that end, half the proceeds from the sale of Elanthian Love Songs will go toward supporting this site and the artists.