New Year’s weekend 2004 into 2005, I began a ritual that I want to

 

continue for the rest of this earthly incarnation…and maybe beyond.

 

It was an out- of- the ordinary weekend in many ways. A retreat at a

 

beautiful bay front home at the Jersey shore, attended by kindred

 

spirits who danced, sang, drummed, laughed, cooked and ate

 

together. Led by phenomenal Philly based performing artist and

 

teacher Ron Kravitz; it was a transformative time for me and I

 

daresay for the others there too.

 

At midnight, we went outside and howled at the moon overlooking

 

the bay. The weather was unusual for this part of the country too,

 

as on New Year’s Day, we did yoga on the beach in 70 degree

 

temps. After the practice, I took a solitary walk at water’s edge and

 

felt, as I occasionally do, a bit sorry for myself. I was facing

 

challenges and saw no way beyond them at that moment. In a

 

flash, I said to myself: “Snap out of it, woman! Let’s make a list of

 

all of the loving souls you have drawn into your life in 2004 and all

 

of the beyond- belief experiences you have had.”…and so I did.

 

With each name and experience and step, I felt lighter physically

 

and emotionally.

 

 

As the end of 2008 approached, I found myself once again

 

meandering into that practice. I figure I have met thousands of

 

people when I consider those I have interviewed for various

 

publications, those I have married, and their families and friends,

 

people with whom I have attended workshops and classes, and who

 

have participated in workshops I have taught. Imagine how many

 

people I have snuggled while facilitating Cuddle Party workshops

 

who have gone on to ‘spread the luv’ to others. That doesn’t even

 

take into consideration, people with whom I have made a heart

 

connection, because other friends have introduced us. I am

 

particularly grateful for those ‘matchmaking’ encounters. I also think

 

about the serendipitous, ‘cosmically coincidental’ meetings, when

 

people show up unexpectedly.

 

 

When I look at the list of experiences, I grin from ear to ear. I had

 

the blessing of living a 20 year old journalistic dream of interviewing

 

the Dalai Lama, began hosting my own internet radio show, traveled

 

to California to visit friends…was that ever an amazing adventure!

I had gone to San Francisco to attend a reunion of Cuddle Party

 

facilitators, those pj-clad wonders who teach people how to be

 

authentic and give and receive nurturing touch without condition.

 

Enjoyed time with my friend Jaz. Got to go to Cafe’ Gratitude,

 

indulging in raw food heaven, find a wild and wonderfully purple

 

cotton jacket at Goodwill, went to a costume party, steppin’ out in a

 

new black silk and lace boustierre (my first, but likely not my last),

 

skipped down the street holding hands with friends (hearing the

 

1960’s anthem written by John Phillips of the Mamas and Papas

 

ringing in my ears: “If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to

 

wear some flowers in your hair.” Corny, but true. I met the ‘spiritual

 

cowgirl’ red-ilicious Sera Beak who wrote The Red Book and was

 

inspired by this red-volutionary whose work is nothing short of

 

Divine sustenance. I did leave a piece of my heart in San

 

Francisco.

 

The last night in the city, before winging Eastward, I found myself in

 

a hot tub with friends (more like a cement pond with bubbling water)

 

surrounded by tall bamboo, overlooking the San Francisco Bay,

 

under a full moon. “Could life get much better than this?”, I mused

 

aloud to Reid Mihalko, ageless co-creator (along with Marcia

 

Baczynksi) of Cuddle Party. His broadly grinning response: “This is

 

your birthright, Babe! You get to have this.” He really does talk like

 

that.

 

 

 

In 2010, I was honored to have my book in progress: The Bliss

 

Mistress Guide To Transforming The Ordinary Into The

 

Extraordinary make it into Round 2 of The Next Top Spiritual

 

Author Contest. I began this Bliss Blog in the Fall of this year

 

which is an ongoing delight.  I witnessed the passing of

 

my sweet mother as we shared the journey of the last

 

seven months of her life; again a great blessing.

 

I invite you to find a way to honor all that you have done last year

 

and all the wondrous people with whom you have crossed paths;

 

folks that you may not even have known existed at this time last

 

year. I encourage you to open your hearts to all the people you

 

have yet to meet who are waiting on the other side of the threshold

 

between last year and this one.

 

Wishing you a brand new year filled with everything your heart

 

desires, as you leave behind in the previous year, anything that no

 

longer serves.

How do you cross thresholds from one year to the next?

List the people you now know who weren’t even on your radar

 

screen when the year began.

What do you wish to leave behind?

What do you wish to attract?