Apparently I’ve been working through some old thoughts, fears, ancestral lineage, outdated stories, and judgements.  It’s up for a lot of people, do you feel it?  I felt it most on the full moon. All of a sudden I found myself reacting unconsciously to some things without even a hint of notice.   I suspect it’s up for final release.  We’re being challenged on so many fronts right now, in order to keep my grounding, focus, and wits about me, I have almost shut off the outside world.

I’ve been doing that lately.  Limiting my time on social media, blocking fear and unnecessary arguments, even asking my husband not to engage me about politics. And avoiding the latest pandemic numbers, you understand.  I need to keep my focus and attention on me right now.  I’m taking less calls, doing less work for outside clients, and honing in on myself and my family.  I need it, we need it.

Last weekend my husband and I went on a lovers’ retreat to Paso Robles.  We visited our favorite winery that we excitedly joined after stalling for five years. We sat in their orchard-like property on top of the rolling hills of vineyards in two high-back wooden chairs, overlooking the land like King and Queen. It was glorious!  The winds were blowing warm air, and it was almost silent, expect for some laughter at a table in the distance; and we were surrounded by some extraordinary magpie birds!  Do you know what they are?  I told my husband I remembered there were some old cartoons about those birds I used to watch as a child, so he looked them up.  To my delight, he said “you are right, they were named Heckle and Jeckle!”  In that moment, I squealed with glee, because I suddenly remembered for the first time in maybe 25 years, we had a black and white cat I adored named Jeckle, named after those Magpies!  I think we adopted Jeckle from our neighbor after his brother Heckle disappeared.  It brought me such immense joy to recall the sounds I used to make to get his attention, and the little white beard he had under his chin that I used to love to scratch.  I remembered the ditties my brother and I used to make up about him and how we would joke that whenever our family left on a trip, Jeckle would be chasing our car…and we thought it was hysterical.  What a treasure trove of memories I was unexpectedly graced with, all from seeing these unusual yellow-billed black and white magpie birds flying around.  Paso has magic in it.

So, what would you like to release? What places of magic are within your comfort to visit soon?  What do you need to block out or keep at bay right now to ground and take care of yourself? It’s time to release, let go, return to places of magic, even in your own backyard, and call in what your heart desires.